The tourists, who declared their first innings at 551-6, dismissed opener Tharanga Paranavitana for zero before the hosts recovered to post 70-1 by stumps at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

The experienced duo of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara led the revival by adding 59 runs for the second wicket on a pitch that continued to assist batsmen. Dilshan was unbeaten on 46 with nine hits to the fence and Sangakkara was on 22. Just 27 overs of the stipulated 90 were bowled during the day as rain washed out play in the last two sessions. —u00a0