HARARE, May 7: Captain Marvan Atapattu (170) and Sanath Jayasuriya (157) put on 281 for the first wicket to lay the foundations for a big Sri Lankan lead on the second day of the first Test against weakened Zimbabwe on Friday.

Although the middle order faltered, the tourists closed on 456 for seven in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 199. Sri Lanka had resumed on 67-0 and the opening partnership was not ended until the 10th over after lunch when wicketkeeper and captain Tatenda Taibu took off his pads to bowl.

Taibu claimed his first Test wicket when his third delivery angled across the left-handed Jayasuriya and was edged to gully-fielder Douglas Hondo who later bowled Atapattu.

Atapattu's 170 was his 13th century and came in 333 minutes at the crease in which he faced 253 balls and hit 21 fours. The more aggressive Jayasuriya batted for 228 minutes for his 12th century, scored off 147 balls and featuring 19 fours and three sixes.

Atapattu was the first of four Sri Lankans to be dismissed with the second new ball when he attempted to drive an inswinger from Hondo and was bowled. The inexperienced Zimbabwe attack showed better discipline after lunch and the last six Sri Lankan wickets to fall went down for only 133.

Chaminda Vaas was 28 not out with debutant Farveez Maharoof on 16 when stumps were drawn. Zimbabwe have been forced to field a weakened team after 15 experienced players made themselves unavailable in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

The home side also struggled on Thursday when Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan took six wickets to move to a test-equal high of 519, a figure he is set to pass when Zimbabwe bat again.

Scoreboard