BULAWAYO, May 15: Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu scored his sixth Test double century here on Saturday to put his side in command of the second Test against Zimbabwe.

At the close of the second day, Attapattu was 202 not out in Sri Lanka's total of 443 for one in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings 228.

He had added 343 for the unbroken second wicket stand with Kumar Sangakkara (186 not out), who was dropped before he scored.

Atapattu, who scored 170 in the first Test victory by an innings and 240 runs, was a model of orthodoxy in facing 280 balls and hitting a six and 30 fours, most of them driven straight or through the covers.

The more innovative Sangakkara ventured square of the wicket more often, facing 248 balls and hitting 28 fours and two sixes for his fifth century.

Sri Lanka resumed on 18 without loss, and Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya soon settled into a steady flow of runs in a morning session that yielded 122 runs.

Unlike his captain, Jayasuriya pierced the field with aggressive strokeplay through point and square leg.

The partnership was ended shortly into the second hour of play when Jayasuriya drove hard at a wide delivery from medium pacer Mluleki Nkala and sent a thick edge into the gloves of wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu.

The stand had been worth 100 runs with Jayasuriya hitting six fours in his 48.

Three balls later Sangakkara drove expansively at a ball from Nkala and was fortunate to have a straightforward chance dropped by Tinashe Panyangara in the covers.

That was the last genuine opportunity Zimbabwe had to take a wicket, and their game but toothless attack made little impression on a benign pitch against quality opponents in good form.

The Zimbabwe bowlers did themselves few favours by bowling too short with the second new ball, and between them Panyangara, medium pacer Elton Chigumbura and Nkala went for 35 runs in three overs near the close.

Zimbabwe were forced to select a weakened squad after 15 experienced players made themselves unavailable in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, which fired the rebels this week.

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