Sangakkara leads strong
Lanka reply

Left-hander Kumar Sangakkara hit his second Test century before Sri Lanka reached an impressive 343 for three at the close of a rain-shortened third day in the first Test against the West Indies on Thursday.

Sangakkara, 126 not out, struck 15 fours in seven hours at the crease as Sri Lanka continued to pile on the runs at the Galle International stadium in reply to the West Indies' first innings of 448.

Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene made the most of a slow pitch to share in a record third-wicket stand of 162 either side of lunch.

The partnership, the highest for either side in Tests between the two countries, surpassed the previous mark of 160 achieved by West Indies openers Sherwin Campbell and Stuart Williams at Antigua in 1996-97.

But Jayawardene, the more aggressive of the two batsmen, narrowly missed out on his ninth Test hundred when he was run out for 99.

He had smashed 13 fours in 133 deliveries when he lobbed a ball from Mervyn Dillon to short mid-wicket and set off for an impossible single as he tried to reach three figures.

He was comfortably run out after a direct hit by Marlon Samuels at the striker's end.

The only other West Indian success on the day came when Marvan Atapattu was removed for 61 before lunch.

The Sri Lanka opener failed to get on top of a Dinanath Ramnarine leg-break, and edged a catch to Brian Lara at slip.

Atapattu, who struck four boundaries in his eighth Test fifty, fell shortly after the first drinks break of the day with the score on 146.

When rain brought an early finish to the day's play, with 23 overs still to be bowled, Sri Lanka trailed West Indies by 105 runs with seven first-innings wickets in hand.

Mail Cricket Editor