COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, August 5: India has forced Sri Lanka to follow on in the second cricket test, commanding a 439-run lead at lunch on the third day Saturday.
Sri Lanka was dismissed to 183 in its first innings in reply to India's 622 for nine declared.
The hosts resumed the day on 50 for two but lost their remaining eight wickets for 133 runs as off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged his 26th five-wicket haul in test cricket.
India bats again despite 309-run lead vs. Sri Lanka
He finished with five for 69 while fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Mohammed Shami took two wickets each.
Jadeja broke through first in the day having Dinesh Chandimal (10) caught by Hardik Pandya. Chandimal's overnight partner Kusal Mendis attempted to force Umesh Yadav over the infield only to be caught by Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
Ashwin forced Angelo Mathews (26) for a close-in catch to Chetenshwar Pujara and Jadeja bowled out Dhananjaya de Silva.
Niroshan Dickwella played an aggressive innings in a bid to break free from pressure. But Shami bowled him out for a 48-ball 51.
Sri Lanka faces an uphill task of escaping innings defeat on a pitch assisting spin bowling at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
India declared its first innings on 622 with two batsmen scoring centuries and four others contributing half-centuries.
A win here will seal the three-match series for India after their 304-run win in the first test.
