Close - India 130 for 8 (Dravid 37*, Prasad 5*) This has been no real Test for the Sri Lankans - it has become a triumphant stroll to the finish line. Javagal Srinath is unlikely to bat, so Sri Lanka need just one wicket on the morrow to put the seal on a third-successive innings victory at Galle. India still trailed by 45 at stumps, with Rahul Dravid the only man to show even a semblance of fight. Missing Tendulkar and Laxman, the Indian batting was torn apart to such an extent that you could almost visualise the bloody entrails. Resuming on 264 for 3, the Sri Lankans made a poor start to the morning. Russel Arnold steered an early delivery from Venkatesh Prasad through to Sadagoppan Ramesh at gully (274 for 4) and Hashan Tillekaratne's comeback didn't last long – he was trapped leg before by Srinath for just 11 (292 for 5). Suresh Perera went the same way, though replays indicated that he may have got an inside edge (296 for 6). Chaminda Vaas chipped in with two ferocious pulls as the Sri Lankans passed 300, only to slash one from Zaheer to Ramesh's left at point, moments before lunch (316 for 7). That was the green light for Sangakkara to stoke the boilers and he played some dazzling strokes on either side of the wicket as he neared a maiden century. Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera departed soon after the interval and it was left to audacious strokemaker Muttiah Muralitharan to keep Sangakkara company. Sangakkara didn't take any chances, and a lofted cover-drive and a chip down the ground brought up a richly-deserved hundred. Murali holed out to deep square leg moments later, leaving Srinath with five wickets and India staring at a deficit of 175. The response was feeble, Ramesh played inside the line of a Ruchira Perera delivery and had his stumps knocked back (15 for 1). But the real drama was reserved for the post-tea session. TS Eliot once wrote, "I have measured my life in coffee spoons," and the average Indian innings after the interval lasted about as long as an espresso. Shiv Sunder Das started the rot, the extra bounce generated by Ruchira Perera his undoing as he cut the ball straight to Suresh Perera at point (37 for 2). Mohammad Kaif made a patchy 14 before being caught at bat-pad by Tillekaratne to give Murali his first wicket (53 for 3). Ganguly came in and started positively, cutting Murali away to the point fence. But the moment he played all around a straight one from Fernando (64 for 4) and saw his off stump pegged back, it was all over bar the last rites. Hemang Badani's discomfort was ended when Murali went around the wicket – his thin edge was neatly caught by Sangakkara (73 for 5). Dighe departed, caught by Arnold at silly point (81 for 6), and the new-look Indian batting had been chewed up and spat out in less than two hours. Harbhajan Singh swung his bat in a violent arc to send a Murali delivery to the midwicket fence and lighten the gloom. But a tossed-up invitation was then sent straight back to a visibly delighted Murali to leave India wavering at 104 for 7. Through the carnage Dravid stood alone, ekeing a single here and a boundary there as his team sought to save some face. Zaheer Khan batted 37 minutes for 3, before Jayasuriya got one to take the edge and Arnold took a smart catch at second slip (120 for 8). Prasad was dropped by Jayawardene at first slip in Jayasuriya's final over of the day but that didn't dim the smiles on the Sri Lankan faces. The Indians will have to bring in the shamans and invoke every rain God there is to escape the inevitable humiliation tomorrow morning.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden Online India

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