Sri Lanka duo hit form
HOVE, May 20: Sri Lanka's Chamara Kapugedera and Thilan Samaraweera both scored unbeaten centuries as the tourists piled on the runs on Friday in their final match before second Test against England at Edgbaston.
Kapugedera finished on 134 not out and Samaraweera was unbeaten on exactly 100 as Sri Lanka made 521 for five declared on the second day of four against Sussex.
Their hundreds, allied to that of inexperienced opener Upul Tharanga (140), helped vindicate Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody's decision to omit recently-arrived veteran left-handed batsman Sanath Jayasuriya from this match after the former captain announced he was ending his Test retirement.
Before stumps Sri Lanka also had the added bonus of taking a wicket with fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who could add firepower to what was a largely innocuous first Test attack after being omitted from the drawn series-opener at Lord's, having Richard Montgomerie caught behind down the legside for 27.
Sussex were fielding an under-strength side and Sri Lanka, who batted for 14 hours to save the first Test of three, gorged themselves on runs.—AFP