MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – India tightened their grip on the  fourth day of the third and final test against Sri Lanka yesterday despite an unbeaten century from visiting captain Kumar  Sangakkara.

Paceman Zaheer Khan struck twice in quick succession to help  reduce Sri Lanka to 274 for six in their second innings, still  needing 59 to wipe out the first innings deficit.

The left-handed Sangakkara hit 133 and shared in three solid  partnerships but Zaheer dismissed Mahela Jayawardene for 12 and  Thilan Samaraweera for a duck to give India the edge.

India, who lead 1-0 in the series, are bidding for a victory  that would secure their spot at the top of the test rankings.

Starting the day 322 runs behind, first-innngs century-maker  Tillakaratne Dilshan (16) was the first man out, falling to  off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for the second time in the match.

The opener was given out lbw although television replays  indicated the ball was missing leg stump.

Sangakkara, who recorded his 21st test hundred, shared in a  90-run stand with opener Tharanga Paranavitana (54) who struck  his second half century of the match.

Medium-pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who took six wickets  in the victorious second test, dismissed Paranavitana lbw in his  first over after lunch.

Zaheer’s magnificent

spell

Zaheer then struck in a magnificent five-over spell, in  which he conceded just three runs.

Using the bounce on offer, Zaheer dismissed Jayawardene  caught behind and Samaraweera caught at slip by Vangipurappu  Laxman.

All-rounder Angelo Matthews , who made 99 in the first  innings, fell to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha just before lunch  for five as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for nine runs to slip  to 144 for five.
The Indian spinners led by Harbhajan gained lift and turn  but Sangakkara batted beautifully, hitting 19 fours and a six,  as he put on 64 for the sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene  (32).

Ojha dismissed wicketkeeper Jayawardene lbw, raising hopes  of an early finish to the innings but Kulasekara gave Sangakkara  admirable company as the the skipper passed 1,000 runs for the  calendar year.

Sangakkara reached his century with a boundary off Zaheer, a  superbly timed on-drivet.

Sri Lanka, yet to register a first test win on Indian soil,  made 393 in their first innings.

India hold a 1-0 lead in the series after they won the  second test by an innings and 144 runs. The first test ended in  a draw.