Atapattu scored 16 (56) when he edged a ball to close-in fielder Mohd Kaif.

At the other end was Upul Tharanga 23 (46) and the new man in was Sangakkara. Lanka was on 44/1 in 18.1 overs.

Both these batsmen played with ease as they gradually gave momentum to the Sri Lankan scoring. While Tharanga moved to 36 (89) in the 29th over, Sangakkara patiently accumulated 13 (33) runs in a team score of 70.

Skipper Sehwag tried all his frontline bowlers to break the partnership including giving himself an over but to no avail.

The new-look never-say-die Team India persevered through the little drought and who else but Anil Kumble should rise to the challenge in India's time of need to gobble up quick wickets.

First to go was the danger man Sangakkara. He missed a straight delivery and was adjudged lbw for 17 (54).

Next to fall was the man in form Tharanga, who was unlucky to miss his fifty, when he played uppishly to be caught by Gambhir for 47 (117).

With the fall of his wicket Sri Lanka were well and truly bound for a crash at 89/3 in 38.5 overs.

Another blow that may have rung the death bell was the fall of Thilan Samaraweera for 5 (8), caught close-in by Kaif.

But then they hit a wall. Both Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan batted with exemplary resolve to negate the spin attack unleashed by India. Mahela especially, was all concentration while Dilshan was willing to take chances when the bad balls came along. Result was Lanka looking good for a draw.

The partnership added 71 runs by the 61st over in a Lanka score of 166/4.

The stubborn partnership started producing runs as both notched up personal fifties and looked very good for more. They took the score to 201 in 72nd over when a piece of great thinking by skipper Sehwag got India a vital breakthrough - the wicket of Jayawardene! The abrupt switch from spin to pace was enough to disturb his concentration. Moreover the pitch was playing up too.

Having tried every ace up his sleeve, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag turned his attention to a neglected asset, non-performing in the Sri Lankan second innings, Ajit Agarkar. The pacer had bowled just two overs till then.

Justifying his inclusion ahead of the big Zaheer Khan, the wiry Agarkar bowled his heart out and his fierce intent produced results when he second-guessed Mahela into offering a caught and bowled chance. The batsman fell for 57 (106). Agarkar had an economy rate of just 1.7 in 7 overs costing 12 runs. In the first innings he had figures of 6 overs for 18 runs spiced by 6 no-balls.

The same attack strategy paid double dividend when Irfan Pathan was brought into the attack alongside Agarkar. Profit was immediate in appearing. Dilshan who had batted resolutely till then was not able to get his body and bat behind the ball properly and an edge went straight to Dhoni. He scored 65 (123).

The writing was on the wall with Lanka on 229/6 off 80.2 overs.

Sri Lanka went to stumps on 235 for 6 in 85 overs still needing 274 runs to win with just four wickets in hand.

Jehan Mubarak was batting on 18 (31) and Farveez Maharoof on 2 (22).

India Plays Doctor, Tries To Psych Out SL