AHMEDABAD: Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 20th year in test cricket with a composed half century Friday as India moved closer to securing draw the first test against Sri Lanka.

India had wiped out the first innings deficit of 334 runs by tea on the fifth and final day and was 341-4 with minimum of 30 overs remaining in the game.

Tendulkar, who made his test debut against Pakistan at Karachi in 1989, compiled his 54th test half century and was batting on a gentle 55 off 143 balls with six boundaries while V.V.S. Laxman was not out on 28.

Sri Lanka scored the highest ever total in a test innings in India when it declared its first innings at 760-7 after dismissing India for 426.

Gautam Gambhir (114) was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session, but not before the elegant left-handed opener had compiled his seventh test century.

In a rare lack of concentration, Gambhir charged left-arm spinner Rangana Herath’s delivery and offered a tame catch to Dammika Prasad at mid-off.

Gambhir became the sixth batsman in the match to reach three figures on a batsman-friendly wicket in the opener of a three-test series and faced 230 balls, hitting 13 boundaries.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara tried his luck with the second new ball midway through the second session but failed to find another breakthrough.

Earlier, India added 66 runs in the morning session after resuming at the overnight 190-2 and lost the lone wicket of nightwatchman Amir Mishra (24).

However, tailender Mishra made Sri Lanka’s bowlers labor for nearly an hour to get rid of him.

Tillakaratne Dilshan took a superb catch at leg gully as Mishra played a decent shot only to see it caught just inches of the ground.

Ace offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan has now bowled 32 wicketless overs in the second innings and conceded 98 runs, but the dead nature of the wicket has given nothing to either the seam or spin bowlers.

Herath (2-79) was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowler while seamers Mathews (1-16) and Chanaka Welegedara (1-6) shared the remaining two wickets.