Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne kept India's bowlers at bay to improve Sri Lanka's chances of a big first innings total in the second Test in Colombo on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, replying to India's 393, took their overnight score of 140-3 to 224 without further loss by lunch on the third day at the P. Sara Oval.

Left-handed Thirimanne was unbeaten on 57 and skipper Mathews was on 72 with Sri Lanka only 169 runs behind and with seven wickets in hand.

The pair batted through the morning session to take their fourth-wicket partnership to 110.

Sri Lanka lead the three-match series, having won the first Test in Galle by 63 runs.

Mathews, one of modern cricket's leading all-rounders, hit a 23rd Test half-century to add to his fine spell of two for 24 in 15 overs of steady medium-pace bowling during India's innings.

India's five-man bowling attack struggled on the easy-paced pitch as both batsmen settled down early to score freely.

The tourists claimed the second new ball as soon as it was due in the last over before lunch, but the break would have come as a welcome relief for Virat Kohli's men.
Source: AFP