India in SL

India drew level against Sri Lanka in the ongoing Test series after crushing the hosts by 170-runs in the second Test in Galle.

Chasing a victory target of 306 to clinch the three-Test series the hosts were bundled out for just 136, losing their final five wickets for just six runs.

India spinner Harbhajan Singh was the destroyer in chief, claiming four second-innings wickets to return his fifth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.

India suffered a humilating defeat by an innings and 239 runs in the first Test last week, however their return to form ensures the series will be decided in the third and final Test which begins in Colombo on Friday.

After bowling out India for 269 in the morning session the hosts' run-chase got off to the worst possible start when they lost their opening three wickets for the addition of just 10 runs.

Opener Michael Vandoort was lucky to last the opening over when he was dropped by Rahul Dravid off Zaheer Khan at third slip from just the second ball of the innings, but his partner, Malinda Warnapura, was not so fortunate.

The left-hander lasted just three balls before he edged an Ishant Sharma delivery behind to VVS Laxman for a duck.

India then took the crucial wicket of Kumar Sangakkara moments later, sending him back to the pavilion for just one run as he too found the hands of Laxman with an edge, this time off Zaheer Khan.

And Sri Lanka were reeling when Mahela Jayawardene went for five, Dravid this time making no mistake in holding his chance at gully from the bowling of Sharma.

Harbhajan's introduction into the attack soon after the lunch break brought further reward when he trapped Vandoort lbw to end his stubborn knock of 10 from 60 balls.

That would be the only wicket of the middle session as Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who survived a dropped chance from wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, set about repairing the damage.

Samaraweera reached his half-century with a back cut through point from the bowling of Harbhajan as he helped guide the Sri Lankans to 109 for four at tea.

But the wickets fell in quick succession after the resumption as the Sri Lankans succumbed in meek fashion.

Dilshan (38) was the first to fall when he received a brute of a ball from Sharma, which he feathered through to Karthik who made up for his earlier misdemeanour by clutching onto the chance.

The spin duo of Harbhajan and Anil Kumble then cleaned up the tail in quick time as the hosts lost their last five wickets for just six runs.

Harbhajan claimed the wickets of Prasanna Jayawardene (four) and Chaminda Vaas (zero) in consecutive overs, before Kumble joined in when he had Nuwan Kulasekara (one) caught by Sharma at mid-off.

Harbhajan then completed his match haul of 10 wickets when Ajantha Mendis swatted a turning delivery straight to Kumble at mid-on.

Kumble wrapped up the victory in the next over when he accepted a return catch from Muttiah Muralitharan.

Samaraweera remained not out on 67 as he ran out of partners.

Earlier India resumed at 200 for four, but the spin duo of Mendis and Muralitharan would allow them to add just a further 69 runs to their total before being bowled out.

Mendis was first to strike, trapping Laxman leg before for 13.

Muralitharan then got the wicket of Karthik, caught at deep mid wicket by Sangakkara for 20, leaving India on 252 for six and sparking the rapid collapse of their innings.

They added only three runs before Sourav Ganguly got himself crossed up on a Muralitharan delivery, allowing Jayawardene to whip off the bails and take his wicket for 16.

Kumble was then out lbw to Mendis for two, and Sharma went for a duck when he was run out attempting a quick single.

Harbhajan added a quickfire 11 for India, but when he was caught and bowled by Mendis, India were all out for 269.

Mendis finished with four wickets for 92.