Nagpur: Another sparkling century from skipper Virat Kohli helped India stretch their lead to 199 against a hapless Sri Lanka on day three of the second Test on Sunday.
The hosts were 404 for three at lunch in Nagpur after resuming the day on 312-2 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 205.
Kohli, 123 not out at the break, compounded Sri Lanka’s misery with a dominant 183-run stand with overnight partner Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 143.
Pujara was finally bowled by paceman Dasun Shanaka a little before lunch after adding 22 to his overnight 121. Ajinkya Rahane had joined Kohli at the crease.
Kohli, who was 54 overnight, went on the attack to register his 19th Test century and the second of the series.
He took a single off fast bowler Suranga Lakmal to reach the three-figure mark to the cheers of a raucous crowd.
Pujara, who faced 362 balls after coming in to bat on day one, was happy to play second fiddle to his skipper who has hit 13 boundaries in his 161-ball stay.
A 209-run second-wicket partnership between Pujara and Murali Vijay, who made 128, had put India in the driver’s seat on Saturday.
Top-ranked India are looking to go one-up in the three-Test series after the rain-hit first match ended in a draw in Kolkata.