Sehwag and Gambhir Wrest Initiative India Lead By 237 Runs

Anil Kumble struck twice in the penultimate over before lunch to end Sri Lanka's innings and ensure that a 37-run lead was gained.

Galle: Twists and turns continue to make the Galle Test a fascinating one, but India ended Day Three with a definite advantages in spite of two late strikes by Sri Lanka.

Having bagged a slender lead of 37 runs after Harbhajan Singh took six wickets for 102 runs to stop the Lankans in their tracks at 292, it was again openers Virender Sehwag 50 (52 balls) and Gautam Gambhir 74 (149 balls) who helped India capitalize with a 90 run opening stand when they began their second innings.

India seemed to e going along comfortable until Lankans struck again after tea, with Vass drawing Tendulkar into an expansive drive and an inordinately delayed umpire review accounting for Dravid. At stumps, India were 200/4, leading by 237.

Day Three Highlights:

• Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have provided the first instance when both the openers have recorded half centuries in each innings of a Test for Indian in an away Test. Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan had achieved the feat against West Indies at Mumbai 1978-79.
• Six wickets captures by Harbhajan Singh in Sri Lanka's First inning. For the first time in his career, he bagged six wickets in an innings on foreign soil, bettering his 5 for 13 vs Windies at Kingston in 2006.
• 100 catches held by VVS Laxman in Tests. With Prasanna Jayawardene's catch, Laxman became the fourth Indian filed to complete a century of catches.
• 6038 runs scored by Rahul Dravid away from home, at an average of 56.96 in 71 Test. He is the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar (6801 at an average 54.40 in 86 Tests) to acheive this distinction in Test cricket.