Suresh Raina notched a century on debut and put on a 236-run partnership with veteran Sachin Tendulkar, as India started the fourth day in the second Test against Sri Lanka, in Colombo, on Thursday, on a high.

Overnight 382 for four, India needed 51 more runs to avoid the follow-on at the start of the day, in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 642 for 4 declared.

Raina, who came into the side in place of Yuvraj Singh, made full use of the opportunity, stroking 12 boundaries and two massive sixes in his knock.

He was particularly sever on the spinners, hitting a massive six off Suraj Randiv. Mixing aggression and classical strokeplay, the southpaw got to his century with a straight drive off Dhamika Prasad.

With the tired Lankan bowling failing to make any impact, skipper Kumar Sangakkara introduced Ajantha Mendis and he provided the breakthrough.

Raina played a chip shot and was caught at midwicket by the skipper himself. The southpaw was out after a brilliant 120, which included 12 boundaries and two sixes.

After that, skipper MS Dhoni gave Tendulkar good company and stepped up the scoring. He mixed caution with aggression as the duo soon put up a 50-run stand.

Sachin Tendulkar registered his fifth double ton as India inched closer to the Lankan total.

The Master Blaster's double hundred was inclusive of 23 hits to the fence and a huge one over it.

In this innings, Tendulkar had reached the 50-run mark with a six and his 100 and 150 came with a boundary each. However, he got to his double with a couple off Mendis.

It was only the fourth instance -- after Stephen Fleming (274 at PSS), Brian Lara (221 at SSC) and Virender Sehwag (201 at Galle) -- of a foreign player scoring a double hundred on Sri Lankan soil.