Late wickets give Sri Lanka edge

Second Test, Galle International Stadium (day one, close): India 214-4

Scorecard

---

Sehwag's unbeaten 128 came in 122 balls

India's Virender Sehwag hit an unbeaten century, but four late quick wickets gave Sri Lanka a slight edge in the rain-hit first day of the second Test.

Having chosen to bat, India looked set for a commanding total with Sehwag (128 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (56) putting on a 167-run opening stand.

But after a rain break Ajantha Mendis (2-74) and Chaminda Vaas (2-57) struck to reduce India to 214-4 in Galle.

India trail in the three-match series after a heavy defeat in the first Test.

And the visitors started as if they were intent on undoing the wrongs of their innings and 239-run defeat in Colombo.

Sehwag and Gambhir raced to 151-0 at lunch off just 29 overs, with Gambhir, then on 13, offering the only chance of the session when he was dropped by Kumar Sangakkara at first slip.

606: DEBATE Give us your thoughts on the opening day

Three hours were then lost to the rain and when play resumed Sri Lanka seized the initiative.

Sehwag reached his 15th Test century with a glorious six over long-on off Vaas, but Mendis broke the opening partnership by trapping Gambhir lbw.

Gambhir, whose half-century came in 92 deliveries, challenged the dismissal but he was unsuccessful and more wickets soon followed to leave India reeling on 178-4.

Rahul Dravid (2) was caught at silly mid-on by Malinda Warnapura off Mendis, while Vaas claimed the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (5) lbw and then, in the same over, had Sourav Ganguly caught behind for a duck.

VVS Laxman survived an lbw decision as he and Sehwag consolidated the innings with a 36-run partnership before bad light prematurely ended play.