Sri Lanka clinch series

Malinda Warnapura and Mahela Jayawardene shared an unbeaten stand of 101 to guide Sri Lanka to a 2-1 series win over India with a day of the third Test in Colombo to spare.

Both batsmen struck half-centuries as the home side completed a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

Needing 122 to win in their second-innings, Sri Lanka recovered from the loss of two early wickets to cruise home on 123 for two.

The hosts were stuttering after losing Michael Vandort for eight and Kumar Sangakkara for four to slip to 22 for two, but Warnapura (54) and Jayawardene (50) calmed the nerves.

Harbhajan Singh bowled Vandort between bat and pad in the second over to give India early hope of an unlikely victory before Zaheer Kahn had Sangakkara caught at mid-off by Gautam Gambhir.

Malinda Warnapura made an unbeaten 54 to guide Sri Lanka to victory in the third Test

Warnapura and Jayawardene though - both of whom owed their side a good performance after scoring a combined 10 in the first innings - put the hosts back on track.

And Jayawardene sealed victory in some style, a fine square cut bringing up his fifty and taking his side past the victory target.

The home side had earlier claimed the final three India wickets for just two runs to leave themselves in sight of the win.

They removed Harbhajan (26), Zaheer and Ishant Sharma (both nought) as India slumped from 266 for seven to 268 all out, VVS Laxman finishing unbeaten on 61 for the tourists.

Having begun the day on 161 for five, Rahul Dravid and Laxman put on a stand of 55 before spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis both struck late in the opening session.

The up-and-coming Mendis removed Dravid for 68 - his eighth wicket of the match - and veteran Muralitharan dismissed Anil Kumble for nine shortly after.

Dravid had notched up his 52nd Test half-century before falling to a sharp catch at first slip by Jayawardene off Mendis, while Muralitharan trapped Kumble lbw.

The India captain asked for a review of the decision, but the dismissal was upheld.

Laxman, batting down the order, and Harbhajan showed some stubborn resistance to take India’s lead past the 100 mark after lunch, the former capitalising on being dropped by Thilan Samaraweera and then Warnapura to rack up 6,000 runs in Test cricket.

Harbhajan, though, fell lbw to Chaminda Vaas before Zaheer was run out and Muralitharan wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Sharma.