SL tighten grip after Jayasuriya ton

Sri Lanka, boosted by Muttiah Muralitharan's haul of nine for 51 and then by an unbeaten century from captain Sanath Jayasuriya, have taken complete control of the second Test against Zimbabwe on day two.

At tea, the home side were 233 for three, just three runs behind Zimbabwe's first innings of 236, with Jayasuriya not out 116.

The dashing left-hander had hit 14 fours to reach his ninth Test century in only 155 balls, after three and a half hours at the crease, as his side laid the platform for a substantial first-innings lead.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Marvan Atapattu was the first to go, trapped leg before wicket by the medium-pace of Travis Friend for nine with the total on 11.

Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara then put on 71 for the second wicket before Sangakkara, in good touch with the bat, was removed in unusual fashion.

Having hit seven fours for 42 in only 44 balls, he tried to pull a short delivery from Friend.

But he lost his balance and, in his attempt to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps, he knocked off the leg-stump bail with his pad to be given out hit wicket.

Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene then added 120 for the third wicket either side of lunch before Jayawardene was removed leg before wicket for 56, trying to pull a straight ball from the left-arm spin of Grant Flower.

MISSED CHANCES

Although Zimbabwe took just the one wicket during the afternoon session, they missed chances offered by Jayawardene, on 35, and by Jayasuriya, on 60.

Earlier, off-spinner Muralitharan failed to capture his 10th wicket of the innings as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 236.

Chaminda Vaas took the final wicket, of Henry Olonga who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara for 18, leaving Muralitharan with figures of nine for 51 off 40 overs -- the fifth-best innings return in Test history.

After taking all nine of Zimbabwe's wickets on the first day, Muralitharan was attempting to become only the third player in Test cricket to take 10 wickets in an innings.

He had a prime opportunity to join England's Jim Laker, who took 10-52 against Australia in Manchester in 1956, and India's Anil Kumble (10-74 against Pakistan in 1999) and possibly claim the world's best bowling return when he bowled the first over of the morning.

However Friend survived a confident lbw decision off the fifth ball of the over, which was a maiden, before Vaas forced Olonga to edge the last ball of his first over of the day to Sangakkara.

Friend was left unbeaten on 29.

Mail Cricket Editor