Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene revelled on their favorite hunting ground to send India chasing leather in the second Test yesterday.
Sangakkara hit 219, his seventh Test double-century, and Jayawardene made 174 as Sri Lanka declared at 642-4 on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
India, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series, replied confidently, reaching 95 without loss by stumps, but still face a long haul to reach 443 and avoid the embarrassment of following on for the second game in a row. Virender Sehwag was unbeaten on a typically aggressive 64 off 63 balls, while Murali Vijay was on 22.
PHOTO: AFP
Sangakkara and former captain Jayawardene continued the run-spree after opener Tharanga Paranavitana’s century on the first day on a lifeless wicket that afforded no help to the bowlers.
The senior duo, who compiled Test cricket’s highest partnership of 624 at the same venue against South Africa four years ago, put on 193 for the third wicket.
Sangakkara’s double-century brought him level with Wally Hammond of England. Only Australian legend Don Bradman (12) and West Indian Brian Lara (nine) have more Test scores of 200 or more.
Jayawardene’s 10th three-figure knock at the SSC is the most by a batsman at a single ground, surpassing Bradman’s tally of nine at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Starting the day at 312-2, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 65 from 14 overs in the first hour, easily seeing off the second new ball claimed late on Monday evening.
By lunch, Sri Lanka had hammered 145 off 29 overs in the morning session.
Sangakkara moved to 199 with four boundaries in one over from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, and then reached 200 with an edged four to third man off Harbhajan Singh.
Sangakkara, who was on 214 at lunch, fell in the fourth over after the break when he edged a lazy drive off part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to lone slip Rahul Dravid.
The left-hander hit 29 boundaries during his seven-hour stay at the crease.
Jayawardene smashed 20 boundaries and a six in his 28th Test century before holing out to mid-wicket to give off-spinner Harbhajan his first success in the series.
Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 76, having put on 176 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene.
India’s four main bowlers all conceded more than 100 runs wiht Harbhajan taking 1-147, Ojha 1-172, Abhimanyu Mithun 0-117 and Ishant Sharma for 1-102.
Sri Lanka’s revamped frontline bowling attack, entirely changed from the one that won the first Test in Galle by 10 wickets, have three days to carve out a series-clinching victory.
With Muttiah Muralitharan having retired and fast bowler Lasith Malinga injured, the hosts also left out left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and seamer Chanaka Welegedara.
Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis leads the attack along with fast bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Dammika Prasad, and debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv.
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