Prasanna boosts Sri Lanka

The first half of the day was without incident. India started by waiting, nay hoping, for a declaration from Sri Lanka, but Prasanna Jayawardene accumulated ruthlessly, scoring at close to four an over, almost making sure Sri Lanka would not have to bat again. Along the way he went past 150 - his second Test century - Sri Lanka registered the highest total in India, and his 351-run partnership with Mahela was a new world record for sixth wicket.

India took the new ball as soon as it was due but Prasanna wasn't troubled. Without taking risks, he kept getting boundaries, as the bowlers again failed to hit the same areas consistently. Ishant Sharma's pace wasn't up there - an edge that he induced when Prasanna was on 99 died on the keeper - and although the field setting suggested India wanted to stop the singles, Prasanna's boundaries made up for it.

The game stayed on auto-pilot until the declaration came 11.4 overs into the second session. Prasanna didn't have to resort to frenetic hitting to go past his milestone. Prasanna's innings - although rarely challenged by India once he got in on the second evening - stood out for how he maintained focus and didn't make an outright mistake. Sri Lanka scored 71 fours and two sixes in 760, and Prasanna remained unbeaten emphatically on 154.