COLOMBO. Aug 7 Vinod Kambli hit I a blazing 120. his 11 fourth century in I five innings, to —J give India a firm grip on l he third Test against Shri Lanka here Saturday, reports AFP.
The left handed Kambli led a charge against a tame home attack as India took a 33 run first innings lead by piling up 384 for 5 at close on the third day.
Skipper Mohammad Azha uruddin, enjoying one of his beat matches In Shri Lanka, was unbeaten on 47 after helping to act up a 63-run fourth wicket stand with Kambli and a further 50 runs tn. 47 minutes for the fifth wicket with Pra-veen Amre who took 21.
The run-hungry Kambli smashed 15 boundaries and two sixes In a 315- minute knock that dashed any hopes Shri Lanka had of grabbing the upper hand on a crucial third day.
Shri Lanka now face the agony of awaiting India's declaration on the fourth day before being sent to bat a second innings on a pitch that is expected to take turn on the final day.
Besides Kambli. half-centuries from opener Manoj Prabhakar and vice-captain Sachin Tendulkar, helped India to score exactly 300 more runs on the third day.
Shri Lanka made 351 in their first innings.
The 21-year-old Kambli. playing his seventh Test, continued from his superb 125 in the second Test.
He treated the attack with sheer contempt and was joined In the run fiesta by Sachin Tendulkar and Azharuddln during two lucrative stands.
Tendulkar followed up his 104 not out tn the second Test with a polished 71. his ninth half-century, when he was
snapped up at gully by skipper Arjuna Ranatungit of medium pacer Chandlka Hathuruslnghe In the last ball before tea.
The exciting 20-year-old stroke-maker cracked ten boundaries In a 204-minute third-wicket association with Kambli that realised 162 runs.
Tendulkar's exit did not curb India's appetite for runs as Azharuddln Joined Kambli In churning out 63 runs for the fourth wicket tn less than 18 overs.
Azharuddln finally found hls form tn the current Test series scoring seven 4s in hts 84-ball unbeaten Innings.
With the latest ton. Kambli consolidated hls position as one of the world's most prolific run getters.
He made successive double centuries in matches against England and Zimbabwe before scoring 125 against Shri Lanka in the second Test. Hls only failure in the last ftvc innings was when he made 4 tn the second innings of the second Test.
Kambli, who entered the fray when India had lost a wicket in the day's third over, ran amok Just after reaching hls century whacking two successive sixes off sptnner Muttiah Murahd-haran in his 32nd over.
He hit the first six out of the grounds over tong-on forcing p tay tobeheld up for a couple of minutes until ground staff retrieved the ball.
Kambli spanked the bowler's next.ball over the same region but met his end in the next over from medium-paced off-cutter Jayananda Warnawcera who had him tog-before with one that kept tow.
Muralidharan eventually finished as the most expensive of the Shri Lankan bowlers giving away 117 runs tn hls 37 overs.
Medium-pacer Pramodya Wickramasinghe had the best figures of 3 for 77.
Shri Lanka had one oppor-
tunlty to get Kambli earlier but wicket-keeper Romesh Kalu wirthana fluffed an easy stumping chance when the batsman was on 53.
The Shri Lankan attack clearly lacked penetration though they caused a ripple In the morning session by claiming two wickets In five were
From an overnight 84 for no Ipss, India slid to 109 for 2 when Wlckramaslnghe sent back openers Manoj Prabhakar ( 55) and Navjot Sidhu (39).
Prabhakar's ninth half-century In his 3Oth Test contained eight boundaries.