Aravinda, Jayasuriya run riot

Aravinda de Silva revived his sagging international career with a strokeful 206 as Sri Lanka plundered a record 509 in a day to tighten the screws on Bangladesh in the opening Test in Colombo on Monday.

The stylish batsman hit his second Test double-century in 93 matches as the hosts recovered from 56 for 3 to post 541 for 9 at stumps on the second day in reply to Bangladesh's 161.

Sri Lanka, resuming at 32 for no loss, went on to shatter England's mark of 503 in a day against South Africa at Lord's in 1924.

Aravinda was not the only batsman to thrive on a toothless Bangladeshi attack as skipper Sanath Jayasuriya also joined the run-fest with an aggressive 145 for his 10th Test century, which contained six sixes and 13 fours.

The pair put on a record 234 for the fifth wicket, surpassing the previous best of 150 between Sidath Wettimuny and Duleep Mendis against England at Lord's in 1984.

The day belonged to the 36-year-old Aravinda, in and out of Test squads of late. He had missed 11 successive Tests before being picked for a recent three-match series in England.

Aravinda made the most of a mediocre Bangladeshi bowling to silence his critics with his 20th Test hundred -- the first since 106 against England at Galle in February 2001.

Bangladesh looked into the fray only for the opening five overs when 16-year-old debuting fast bowler Talha Jubair bagged two wickets and Manjural Islam one to jolt the hosts.

Aravinda put the rival attack in proper perspective as he added 150 for the fourth wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (75), who hit 12 fours in his eighth Test half-century before being caught short of the crease going for a third run.

He raced to his hundred with attacking shots, pulling and driving left-arm spinner Enamul Haque through the covers for two successive fours. He then lofted the spinner over mid-wicket in the next over to reach his century.

Aravinda completed his double-century in the closing session when he drove left-arm seamer Islam through mid-wicket for three runs.

His 234-ball knock ended when he was adjudged leg-before off Enamul while attempting a reverse-sweep, but not before he had helped his team survive an early scare.

Sri Lanka lost three wickets in the space of 21 runs after resuming at 32 for no loss.

Marvan Atapattu became Jubair's maiden Test victim in the opening over, inside-edging a delivery on to his stumps at his overnight score of 20.

The Bangladeshi teenager then bowled Mahela Jayawardene for no score, finding the gap between the bat and pad with an inswinger.

Russel Arnold added 15 to his overnight score of 10 before being caught slashing at gully off Islam.

Mail Cricket Editor