Sri Lanka take an upper hand

Fast bowler Thilan Thushara claimed two top-order wickets as Sri Lanka took firm control on day two.

Thilan Samaraweera had earlier compiled a magnificent 143 and Mahela Jayawardene made 92 as the home side reached 416 in their first innings in the second Test against New Zealand in Colombo.

Thushara strikes early as SL take control

The bowlers - led by Thushara - then wreaked havoc to leave New Zealand staring down the barrel.

Thushara gave his side early breakthroughs with the wickets of Daniel Flynn (13) and Martin Guptill (35), while Dammika Prasad sent back opener Tim McIntosh cheaply to leave the visitors in disarray.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath then picked up the wicket of Jesse Ryder (23) and Muttiah Muralitharan sent back nightwatchman Jeetan Patel as New Zealand stumbled to 159 for five at the close.

Ross Taylor, who battled hard to hold up one end, was unbeaten on 70 at stumps alongside Brendon McCullum (five not out).

It was another day of domination for the home side, although the Black Caps began brightly in the morning.

Fast bowler Iain O'Brien severed the partnership between Jayawardene and Samaraweera early by snaring the former captain eight runs short of the 100-run mark.

O'Brien got one to bounce and move in a touch from outside off-stump and Jayawardene obliged with the edge which was neatly snaffled by wicketkeeper McCullum.

It was the only false stroke Jayawardene played in an innings that spanned over five hours.

It's all about numbers

He put on 180 for the fourth wicket with Samaraweera.

Chamara Kapugedera, scoring briskly, then added 72 for the fifth wicket with Samaraweera, but was snared just before the lunch interval by off-spinner Patel as he attempted to quicken the pace.

Kapugedera attempted to hit over the top but miscued and handed Daniel Vettori a simple catch at mid-off.

Patel carried the momentum into the afternoon session and was rewarded with the wickets of Prasad (six) and Herath (0) off successive deliveries.

Prasad edged to Taylor at first slip, while Herath was trapped leg before.

Their dismissals came after Chris Martin had lured Prasanna Jayawardene (17) into a pull shot, the batsman only managing a top-edge which went straight to O'Brien at deep square leg.

Samaraweera, who had reached his 11th Test century by squeezing a brace off Martin through a packed off-side field, continued to hold one end up before eventually perishing to Patel.

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The middle-order batsman attempted a rare reverse sweep, but the ball brushed the glove and ballooned up to present McCullum with a simple catch.

Samaraweera struck 17 boundaries and a six - off the next delivery after reaching his century - during his 240-delivery stay at the crease.

Vettori mopped up the last Sri Lankan wicket of Thushara to finish with three for 104 from 40.3 overs.

Patel, however, was the statistical pick with four for 78 from 20 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara then threw a surprise by handing the new ball to part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan, but it was Prasad who provided the first breakthrough from the other end.

Prasad flicked the top of McIntosh's back pad with one that pitched on middle and moved away, but umpire Nigel Llong ruled him out.

Thushara, who was hit for successive boundaries in his first over by Guptill, then struck two quick blows.

Flynn (13) edged the left-arm seamer to Prasanna, while Guptill miscued a pull and was caught by Muralitharan at deep square leg as the Black Caps slipped to 63 for three.

Taylor, who survived a good shout for leg before and was dropped on 57 off Muralitharan, stemmed the tide somewhat and put on 85 for the fourth wicket with Ryder.

Burly left-hander Ryder, however, fell towards the end of the session, inside edging a delivery from Herath which went off the pad to Tharanga Paranavitana at short leg.

With less than six overs remaining to the close, Patel was promoted up the order, but he was removed by master spinner Muralitharan after facing just six deliveries, forcing McCullum to play out the remainder of the day.

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