Atapattu slams unbeaten 201

Opener Marvan Atapattu underlined his appetite for big scores with his fourth Test double century as Sri Lanka piled on the agony for England in the first Test on Friday.

Atapattu played the anchor role to perfection by scoring an outstanding 201 not out while Aravinda de Silva stroked 106 before Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 470 for five on the second day.

England openers Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick had to survive eight overs before the close and did so by making 27 without loss.

Atapattu, who has now turned four of his six three-figure Test innings into double centuries, made his runs from 536 balls and hit 18 fours.

He put on 230 for the third wicket with the veteran de Silva and shared a fourth wicket stand of 111 with Mahela Jayawardene, who lifted the tempo by hitting two sixes and three fours as he made 61 off 94 balls.

England gained only three successes -- two from run outs -- after Sri Lanka began another sweltering day at 221 for two. The bowlers stuck to their task willingly but without ever looking particularly threatening on a slow, dusty pitch.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings) (overnight 221-2)
M.Atapattu not out 201
S.Jayasuriya c White b Gough 14
K.Sangakkara c White b Croft 58
A. de Silva run out 106
M.Jayawardene run out 61
C.Vaas c White b Giles 8
R.Arnold not out 1
Extras (B-9, LB-2, NB-10) 21
Total (for five wickets, declared) 470
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-110, 3-340, 4-451, 5-468
Did not bat: T.Dilshan, D.Fernando, M.Muralitharan, K.Dharmasena
Bowling: Gough 26-3-95-1 (nb5), Caddick 30-13-46-0 (nb2), White 30-6-80-0 (nb2), Giles 48-8-134-1 (nb1), Croft 32-6-96-1, Hick 4-0-8-0

England (1st innings):
M.Atherton not out 12
M.Trescothick not out 11
Extras: (B2, NB2) 4
Total (for no wicket) 27
To bat: N.Hussain, G.Thorpe, A.Stewart, G.Hick, C.White, A.Giles, R.Croft, A.Caddick, D.Gough.
Bowling: Vaas 2-1-3-0, Muralitharan 4-1-8-0 (nb1), Dharmasena 2-0-14-0 (nb1)

Mail Cricket Editor