Sri Lanka builds modest reply to India's commanding first-innings total

Sri Lanka's batsmen struggled to build momentum against India's bowling attack at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday, reaching 216-7 at the tea interval. India had earlier declared their first innings closed at 503-9, establishing a substantial first-innings lead that puts considerable pressure on the home side.

The Sri Lankan batting lineup has found scoring difficult, with wickets falling at regular intervals throughout the day's play. The loss of seven wickets before tea suggests India's bowlers have been effective in exploiting conditions at the venue.

With Sri Lanka well behind on the scorecard, the team will need significant contributions from their remaining batsmen to avoid following on. The fourth day's play will be crucial in determining whether the hosts can build a more competitive total and force India to bat again.

The Test is the second and final match of the series between the two nations, with India having established themselves firmly in control through their commanding first-innings performance. Sri Lanka's response over the coming days will determine the trajectory of the match and the series outcome.