India's Ishant Sharma claims five Sri Lanka wickets in third Test

The tourists finished a rain-curtailed day 132 runs ahead, and with seven wickets in hand, although their position could have been far more dominant after Sri Lanka had crashed to 47 for six.

Sangakkara made an emotional exit from international cricket last week, when India squared the three-match series, and the absence of his vast experience was acutely felt as Ishant Sharma inspired their collapse.

Ishnat claimed half of the early wickets, en route to figures of five for 54, after India had been bowled out for 312 in the morning session.

Cheteshwar Pujara batted through the innings for his unbeaten 145, but the opener's day would be soured before the end as Sri Lanka embarked on a fight back.

That began via their tail and an unlikely 79-run stand between Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath.

They were thrust together when Dhammika Prasad, already struggling with a neck injury, was struck on the glove by a rising Ishant delivery and forced to retire hurt.

Ishant had already removed Lahiru Thirmanne to an edge behind earlier in the over, to leave Sri Lanka six down, as India sensed a quick kill.

But Sri Lanka's last five batsmen would add 154 runs between them as Kusal counter-attacked with 55, from 56 balls, while veteran spinner Herath fell just a run shy of only his second ever Test fifty.

Ishant returned to remove both, but their stand had granted Prasad enough time to recover and return to the crease with a valuable 27 from 23 balls.

India's first-innings lead was still significant at 111 runs, but their grip on the game loosened again as they lost three wickets before the close to be 21 for three when the rain came.

First-innings centurion Pujara was the first to fall, for a duck, when a Prasad leg-cutter hit to top of his middle stump with the second ball.

It was the fourth time in the series Prasad had struck in the first over of his spell and history also repeated itself when KL Rahul mimicked his first-innings dismissal by shouldering arms to a Nuwan Pradeep delivery that cut back into his off stump.

Pradeep then trapped Ajinkya Rahane lbw, leaving India seven for three, but captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma avoided any further damage as the rain arrived to halt Sri Lanka's momentum.