Indian middle order failed yet again but opener Gautam Gambhir (72) and a 51-run last wicket stand helped the visitors post 249 against Sri Lanka even as mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis picked five wickets on the opening day of the third and final Test in Colombo on Friday.

Besides Mendis, debutant Dhammika Prasad snared three early wickets and spin wizard Mutthiah Muralitharan picked two as India failed to take advantage of winning the toss on a bouncy Premadasa track here.

Sri Lanka were were 14 for loss of one wicket at close with Michael Wandort (3) and night watchman Chaminda Vaas (0) at the crease.

Malinda Warnapura was the only Lankan wicket to fall, bowled by pacer Ishant Sharma minutes before the stumps were drawn.

Earlier, hostile fast bowling by Prasad put India on the back foot even as Gambhir ploughed a lone furrow with his patient half century.

Later, Mendis ended up with a figure of five wickets for 56 runs and Muralitharan took two for 58 runs to send India packing.

Interestingly, most of third umpire review decisions was on India's favour today.

Trying to weather the initial bounce, openers Virender Sehwag and Gambhir tried to keep the scoreboard ticking through some crafty drives.

But Sehwag was the first to go after he failed to cash in on a dropped catch by Malinda Warnapura off the bowling of Prasad at short leg and was finally out for 21.

Indians innings was in shambles, but a matured last wicket partnership between Zaheer (32) and Sharma (17), the highest against Sri Lanka, saved the visitors from further humiliation.