July 05, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1428

COLOMBO, July 4: Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara scored a brilliant unbeaten double century before a dramatic late collapse on the second day on Wednesday left Bangladesh facing an innings defeat in the second Test.

Sangakkara was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's 451 for six declared, scoring 200 not out to leave Bangladesh 389 runs in arrears at the P. Sara Stadium.

Bangladesh collapsed to 69-4 in their second knock by stumps despite a brisk start of 48 runs in six overs by openers Javed Omar and Shahriar Nafees.

Bangladesh, bowled out for a record low of just 62 in the first innings, lost the wickets of Shahriar Nafees, Rajin Saleh, Javed Omar and Mehrab Hossain Jr.

With three days still remaining, Bangladesh are still 320 runs in arrears with Habibul Bashar on three and skipper Mohammad Ashraful on seven.

Sangakkara began the day on 51 and progressed smoothly to a 13th Test century, reaching three figures just before lunch with a straight six before reaching 200 for the fifth time in his career in the final session.

The 29-year-old left-hander – the seventh batsman in Test history to have scored five or more double hundreds – batted for just short of eight hours in an innings that spanned 325 deliveries and included 20 fours and two sixes.

Left-handed Sangakkara, who took a break from his services with English county Warwickshire to play in the home series, reached his century shortly before lunch by lofting Mohammad Rafique for a six.

Sangakkara was involved in three big stands, adding 128 for the second wicket with Malinda Warnapura, 98 for the third with skipper Mahela Jayawardene and 92 for the fourth with Chamara Silva.

Warnapura was the lone batsmen to be dismissed in the extended morning session for 82 after Sri Lanka resumed at their overnight score of 154-1.

Warnapura, nephew of Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, had failed to get off the mark on his debut in the opening Test.

The left-hander made amends by making 79 on Tuesday, but added only three more runs in 40 minutes on the second morning when he miscued a hook off Shahadat Hossain to be caught at mid-wicket.

Warnapura put on a century stand with Sangakkara to revive Sri Lanka after opener Michael Vandort had fallen cheaply for 14 the previous day.

Jayawardene, who was on 49 at lunch, failed to add another run as he top-edged a hook off Shahadat Hossain to Shahriar Nafees at square-leg in the second over after the break.

Bangladesh bowlers kept a steady line and length to check the flow of runs, but their good work was undone by sloppy fielding that afforded the Sri Lankan captain two lives.

Jayawardene had not scored a run when he edged Mashrafe Mortaza between wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim and first slip Habibul. Neither went for the waist-high catch.

Jayawardene then saw Rafique put down a simple return catch when he was on 28.

Mehrab slowed Sri Lanka's progress in the afternoon session by removing Silva and Tillekeratne Dilshan in the space of three deliveries.

Vaas, who hit a maiden hundred in the first Test, remained unbeaten on 30.

Bangladesh were then left with a tricky 17-over session before the close.

Vaas grabbed the breakthrough as Shahriar (20) was caught behind off an expansive cover drive.

The innings plunged into freefall with four wickets falling for just 11 runs. Saleh (nought) fell to a stunning diving catch by Mahela Jayawardene at second slip off Dilhara Fernando, Javed (28) was trapped lbw by a Vaas inswinger and debutante Mehrab (eight) was bowled by Fernando.

Bangladesh trail the three-match series 1-0 after losing the first game by an innings and 234 runs last week.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st innings) 62 (M. Muralitharan 4-14, S.L. Malinga 4-25).

SRI LANKA (1st Innings, overnight 154-1):

M.G. Vandort b Mashrafe 14

B.S.M. Warnapura c Shahriar b Shahadat 82

K.C. Sangakkara not out 200

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Shahriar b Shahadat 49

L.P.C. Silva c Mashrafe b Mehrab 33

T.M. Dilshan b Mehrab 0

H.A.P.W. Jayawardene c Javed b Mashrafe 14

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas not out 30

EXTRAS (B-6, LB-7, W-3, NB-13) 29

TOTAL (for six decl, 124.5 overs) 451

FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-169, 3-267, 4-359, 5-359, 6-395.

DID NOT BAT: S.L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan, C.R.D. Fernando.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 30-7-77-2 (6nb, 1w); Shahadat Hossain 21-3-81-2 (3nb); Mohammad Sharif 24-4-86-0 (2w); Mohammad Rafique 35-3-134-0 (4nb); Mohammad Ashraful 7-0-31-0; Mehrab Hossain Jr 7.5-0-29-2

BANGLADESH (2nd Innings):

Javed Omar lbw b Vaas 28

Shahriar Nafees c P. J’wardene b Vaas 20

Rajin Saleh c M. J’wardene b Fernando 0

Mehrab Hossain Jr b Fernando 8

Habibul Bashar not out 3

Mohammad Ashraful not out 7

EXTRAS (B-2, NB-1) 3

TOTAL (for four wkts, 14 overs) 69

FALL OF WKTS: 1-48, 2-51, 3-55, 4-59.

BOWLING (to-date): Vaas 6-3-13-2; Malinga 2-0-22-0 (1nb); Fernando 5-0-28-2; Muralitharan 1-0-4-0.—Agencies