Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed four quick Sri Lanka wickets in the final session yesterday, as India took back the upper hand after two days of a fluctuating second Test.
Sri Lanka were 215-5 in their first innings on day two, replying to India's 329. The hosts lost opener Michael Vandort in the first over before Malinda Warnapura and Kumar Sangakkara batted aggressively to leave them on 126-1.
The comfort was ruined at stumps by Singh as he spun India back towards the win it needs to square the three-Test series and repair some damaged pride after a humiliating first test defeat.
Sri Lanka's slide began in the seventh over of the last session when Warnapura (66) drove a Singh delivery to Gautam Gambhir at short cover, ending a 97-ball inning of 10 fours and a six.
Singh struck again in his next over, snaring the dangerous Sangakkara (68), whose more patient approach had seen nine boundaries over 120 balls.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera added 48 runs but never looked comfortable on a pitch offering turn and bounce for the spinners.
Singh struck twice in the 53rd over. He trapped Samaraweera (14) lbw and three balls later had Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) caught bat-pad at forward short-leg.
Samaraweera challenged the dismissal under trial laws being used in this series, but third umpire Gamini Silva agreed with on-field umpire Mark Benson and ruled him out.
Earlier, spinner Ajantha Mendis (6-117) claimed a five-wicket haul in just his second test to end India's first innings, which was highlighted by an imperious double century from opener Virender Sehwag, who amassed 201.