Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara at Galle. - AP

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP):

INDIA BUILT upon their first-inning lead with a strong start to their second innings yesterday, seizing an advantage over Sri Lanka after three days of the second Test.

India, who cleaned up Sri Lanka's tail in the opening session to claim a 37-run lead on first innings, moved to 200-4 in their second innings, bolstering their chances of getting the win they need to square the three-Test series.

Day four will resume with Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman, both yet to score, at the crease and hoping to carve out a big target for Sri Lanka to chase.

"Anything above 350 is going to be a good target because the wicket is going to deteriorate from here," opener Gautam Gambhir told reporters after the day's play.

Gambhir and opening partner Virender Sehwag got India off to a strong start to their second innings with a 90-run stand as India dominated the first two sessions of the third day.

First-inning double-century maker Sehwag (50) hit six fours and a six in his typically brisk style before being caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan at extra-cover off seamer Chaminda Vaas.

However, Sri Lanka came back into the contest with two late wickets in consecutive overs just before play was stopped for bad light.

Gambhir (74) completed his second fifty of the match before he misread an Ajantha Mendis delivery, electing to leave it only to watch it hit the stumps.

Disappoint

"I should have got a hundred, I am a bit disappointed," Gambhir said of his dismissal.

Two wickets fell with the score at 200. The first was the key scalp of Sachin Tendulkar (31), who slashed at a Vaas delivery and was caught by captain Mahela Jayawardene at slip.

Seven balls later Rahul Dravid (44) was adjudged lbw to Muttiah Muralitharan. Field umpire Billy Doctrove ruled the batsman not out but Jayawardene challenged the decision under the new law being trialled in this series, and he was given out by the third umpire.

Despite the odds, Jayawardene says that his side stil has a chance to win the Test.

"If we have to get 400 we can get that, that's the attitude we've got. We still have not been taken out of the game."

India earlier secured a first innings lead thanks to brilliant bowling by offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who picked up 6-102 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292.

Sri Lanka resumed the third day at 215-5 hoping to overhaul India's first innings score of 329, but the host team's last five wickets fell for 77 runs and their innings was over by lunch.

Jayawardene top scored for Sri Lanka with 86, his 31st Test half-century scored off 188 balls including 10 boundaries.

India's captain Anil Kumble gave valuable support to Singh with three wickets.