INDIA’S seamers grabbed four important wickets on the third morning when play finally resumed in the rain-hit first Test today.

The hosts, starting at Sunday (July 18)’s score of 256-2, moved to 361-6 by lunch as the sun broke through for the first time in two days at the Galle International Stadium.

The second day’s play had been washed out yesterday without a ball being bowled, while 22 overs were lost on the first due to heavy rain in this southern coastal town.

When play started an hour late today, India’s young seam attack of Ishant Sharma and debutant Abhimanyu Mithun rattled the Sri Lankans with appreciable movement both in the air and off the wicket.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who hit a maiden Test century on the first day, managed to add just one run to his score of 110 when he was caught behind off Sharma in the day’s second over.

Mithun struck 10 balls later by trapping new batsman Thilan Samaraweera leg-before for zero, two deliveries after the batsman was dropped at first slip by Rahul Dravid.

Mahela Jayawardene put on 62 for the fifth wicket with Angelo Mathews, before he was claimed leg-before by Sharma with a ball that dipped in sharply.

The former captain made an attractive 48 with six boundaries.

Mathews fell for 41 just before the lunch break when Venkatsai Laxman dived to his right at second slip to pick up a low catch off Sharma.

Wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 20 and Rangana Herath had yet to score when lunch was called.

Bad weather has been forecast on all five days of the match, which marks the final Test appearance for Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan.

The off-spinner needs eight scalps to reach the unprecedented 800-wicket mark, adding to his record haul of 515 one-day wickets.