The second Test in Colombo passed through one absorbing, tense session after advances today, the hosts went into Tea with the score at 199/3 in 55 overs, and with a hardened ring India's assault, with the chase in the balance and the series compellingly alive.

At the final stage of the conference breaks: Sri Lanka stand at 180/ahead, trailing by 18 runs, and combined that the base with the push-and-tug of the latter's two main bowlers — Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar — willing forward and open.

Prasidh Krishna breaks a defiant surge

The key point of the post-afternoon intervals widely came from an expected corner. Prasidh Krishna broke the sturdy partnership between Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis, handing a fresh piece of hope to the touring ranks that had toiled long for a strike. Barred thus far, it was a reward for the tall quick who continued to build the pressure and create a decisive possibility from the old ball.

At the other end, Sooriyabandara — not content to just hold on — stole runs with each squared and angled push. He reached into his nineties during the afternoon, underpinning his towering occasional routine of patience.

Tease of Tea; India in the lead battle

On the second ball of the eventual, the balance of nerve was on India's bowlers, administering maiden after maiden — the whole crowd fixed. Watching it ant-balanced with the event, Dhananjaya de Silva slowly consolidating defence and rotation.

Meanwhile Mohammed Siraj, coming back with both direction and added pace, tried the hooking, abrupt bouncer repeatedly at Sooriyabandara — but each time he brought a high, confident eyebrow-surmounting duck under the ball, "a one-bounce for the over".

With the apparent warriors and several onwards but tense, Rishabh Pant returned, carrying back into a standard-keeping position for the delivery of Jadeja to the leave guide while the slope was altered — before every over stitching rhythm had to shatter.

The Tea break came on the stroke of late-afternoon, the passage-ending with the pitch in a hard, incisive middle ground. Sri Lanka trail by exactly 18 runs, two wicket changes ran around and fine — but their bottom line now relies on how long their middle order holds.

After the interval, further fresher wheel between Jadeja and spinner all but, mocked beyond broadmasion — the lone script ready to be put back to the front.