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India gave a strong reply to Sri Lanka on the second day of the third and final Test being played between the two sides at the P. Sara Stadium here on Wednesday. Replying to Sri Lanka ’s mammoth score of 425 all out, India scored 180 for the loss of two wickets before bad light stopped play. At the crease were Virender Sehwag on 97 and Sachin Tendulkar on 40. The two have so far added 88 runs for the fourth wicket. Sehwag struck 17 boundaries in his knock, while Tendulkar, who is appearing in his record breaking 169th Test, struck five boundaries. Sehwag scored his runs of 87 deliveries, while Tendulkar took 66 balls to score 40 runs. Earlier, India lost opener Murali Vijay for 14 caught by Ajantha Mendis of the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Rahuld Dravid fell leg before wicket to Angelo Mathews for 23. Sri Lanka ’s huge first innings total was made possible due to an unbeaten 137 by middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera (12 fours and one six) and robust 45 by Mathews (six fours). For India, left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha claimed four wickets for 115 runs, while pace bowler Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets for 72 runs.

Sehwag’s 97 helps India respond strongly to Lanka’s 425