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Mumbai: The Lankan captain's unbeaten 133 guided the visitors to 274-6 at stumps on day four.
Kumar Sangakkara stood alone, between India and the No. 1 ranking, and also brought up his first hundred in six Tests in India, a fighting effort on a pitch that helped both spinners and fast bowlers. Although India were made to work hard for the six wickets they got on the fourth day, they were still in control.
It wouldn't have been the case but for a mid-afternoon collapse, which was kicked off by Sreesanth, capitalised on by Zaheer Khan, and finished by Pragyan Ojha, resulting in four wickets for 25 runs.
India sent back four Sri Lankan batsmen in quick succession to tighten the noose around the visitors, who were struggling at 144 for five at tea on the fourth day of the third and final Test at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors were still trailing by 59 runs after conceding a 333-run first innings lead.
Zaheer Khan struck two big blows after his pace partner S Sreesanth claimed one wicket. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha also grabbed one wicket in the last session as Lanka lost six wickets on 274 at stumps on day four.
Sreesanth got the first break for the home team after lunch by sending back opener Tharanga Paranavitana in his first over of a fresh spell as Lanka slumped from 119 for one to 137 for four.
Zaheer, brought back for a new spell from the Churchgate end, sent back Mahela Jayawardene (12) and Thilan Samaraweera (0) in the space of 15 balls for one run.
And just as Lanka were hoping to go into tea without further loss, Ojha turned a ball across the face of all rounder Angelo Mathews' bat and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni accepted the edge
A victory for India, which looks inevitable at the break, would not only give them a 2-0 triumph in the series but also take them past South Africa to the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Sreesanth and Zaheer delivered the blows in the very first overs of their new spells in the post-lunch period to send back Paranavitana (54) and former Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene (12) respectively.
Resuming at the lunch-time score of 84 for one Lanka progressed slowly to 119 before India got an important break.
Sreesanth, getting some reverse-swing, brought a ball back into Paranavitana who injudiciously tried to play it to leg and was trapped plumb in front after striking eight fours in 144 balls. His partnership with Sangakkara was worth 90 in 220 balls.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene, who scored 275 in the opening drawn Test at Ahmedabad, forged together a stand of 16 runs before India struck three quick blows to bring the visitors on to their knees.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka: 393 and 274 for 6 (Sangakkara 133*, Paranavitana 54)
India: 726 for 9 dec.
Status: Sri Lanka trail by 59 runs
