Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked an unbeaten century as India tightened the noose around a hapless Sri Lanka by taking an imposing 333-run first innings lead and set the platform to push for victory in the third and final cricket Test here today.
Although Virender Sehwag (293) narrowly missed becoming the first cricketer to score three triple hundreds in Test history, there was no respite for the visitors as the Indians rattled up their highest-ever total before declaring at 726 for nine at the fag end of the third day.
After Sehwag's carnage on the second day, the runs came at a much slower pace but Dhoni (100 not out) stole the thunder with some lusty hits to notch up his third Test ton and put India firmly in the driver's seat.
Rahul Dravid (74), VVS Laxman (62) and Sachin Tendulkar (53) chipped in with useful contributions for the Indians who need to win this match to climb to the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Required to face three overs, the Sri Lankans reached 11 for no loss with the two openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (3) and Tharanga Paranavitana (8) remaining unseparated at stumps on the third day which again belonged to the home team. The islanders trailed India by 322 runs.
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