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Enlarge PhotoSri Lanka's Lasith Malinga and his teammate Mahela Jayawardene (L) celebrate after Malinga took the... An eighth wicket stand of 115 between Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga enabled Sri Lanka to declare their first innings closed at 520 for eight on the third day of the first test against India on Tuesday.The pair came together at 393 for seven and were not parted until Sri Lanka were past the 500 mark.
Malinga scored 64 off 75 balls with nine fours and two sixes before top edging a pull to fine-leg while Herath, batting with great assurance, struck 10 fours and one six in compiling an unbeaten 80 off 93 balls.
Both recorded their highest test scores while the partnership was an eighth wicket record against India.
Muttiah Muralitharan, the world record holder for test wickets who is making his final test appearance, was greeted by fireworks when he came out to bat and the Indian fielders formed a guard of honour.
Fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun on his test debut added the wickets of Prasanna Jayawardene for 27 and Malinga in the afternoon session to end with figures of four for 105.
India rallied to capture four Sri Lanka wickets on the third morning of the weather-interrupted test.
Resuming at 256 for two after Monday's play was completely washed out by rain, Sri Lanka reached 361 for six at lunch losing four batsmen for 105 runs in an extended morning session.
India made their initial breakthrough in the second over of the morning when Ishant Sharma had Tharanga Paranavitana caught behind for 111 after the opener had added a single run to his overnight score.
The introduction of the second new ball after 83 overs inspired Sharma to further success as he picked up the wickets of Mahela Jayawardene (48) and Angelo Mathews (41).
(Editing by John Mehaffey;
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