Dilshan's century lifts Sri Lanka in India Test

Tillakaratne Dilshan continued his superb form by smashing his fifth century this year as Sri Lanka made a spirited reply in the first Test against India here on Tuesday.

Dilshan hit 112, his 10th Test hundred, as Sri Lanka cruised to 275-3 by stumps on the second day in reply to India's first innings total of 426.

The right-hander put on 74 for the first wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana (35) and 115 for the second with skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who made 31.

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera built on the good start by adding 81 for the unbroken fourth wicket before stumps were drawn for the day.

Jayawardene was unbeaten on 36 and Samaraweera was on 45 with Sri Lanka 151 runs behind India with seven wickets in hand.

Dilshan, who passed a late fitness test on a sprained ankle to play the match, revelled in excellent batting conditions at the Motera stadium to hit 12 fluent boundaries.

The 33-year-old opener has scored 961 runs in nine Tests this year at an average of 73.92, with 162 against Bangladesh in January being the best of his five centuries in 2009.

Sri Lanka, who were comfortably placed at 189-1 soon after tea, lost Dilshan and Sangakkara in successive overs from Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan to slip to 194-3.

The left-arm seamer had Dilshan top-edging an intended pull to Rahul Dravid at gully, before Sangakkara hooked Zaheer to fine-leg where Sachin Tendulkar took a well-judged catch.

Left-hander Paranavitana was the lone batsman to be dismissed in the post-lunch session, caught by Indian captain and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ishant Sharma.

India, who earlier resumed at Monday's score of 385-6, lost their last four wickets for 41 runs and were all out soon after the first drinks break.

Dravid, whose unbeaten 177 on the first day helped India recover from a disastrous 32-4, failed to add to his overnight score when he was bowled by Chanaka Welegedara in the morning's third over.

Zaheer brought up India's 400 by slashing two consecutive deliveries from Dammika Prasad over the slips to the third man fence.

Prasad responded with a full toss at Zaheer's mid-riff that sent the batsman sprawling to the ground. The bowler immediately apologised to Zaheer, indicating the ball had slipped from his sweaty hand.

Zaheer and Harbhajan Singh carried the total to 414 when left-arm spinner Rangana Herath broke the partnership by earning a leg-before verdict against Zaheer.

Television replays indicated umpire Daryl Harper had misjudged the direction of the ball, which appeared to miss the leg stump.

Harbhajan made 22 with the help of two boundaries when he was bowled while attempting a reverse sweep off the prolific Muttiah Muralitharan.

Muralitharan, the world's most successful Test bowler, had last man Ishant Sharma stumped four balls later to finish with three wickets in the innings and take his overall tally to 786.

Welegedara, playing only his second Test, returned with the wickets of India's first four batsmen -- Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Tendulkar and Dravid -- against his name.