First Test, Ahmedabad, day three (close):
India 426 v Sri Lanka 591-5
Coverage: Regular score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website

Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka record their highest total in India

Mahela Jayawardene hit his sixth Test double century to help Sri Lanka take a 165-run lead over India on day three of the first Test in Ahmedabad.

The former captain, who was 36 not out overnight, completed his 27th Test ton on his way to an unbeaten 204 as the visitors moved from 275-3 to 591-5.

The 32-year-old shared 138 with Thilan Samaraweera (70) and a record 216 with Prasanna Jayawardene (84 not out).

Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh were the only wicket-takers as India toiled.

The stand by the two Jayawardenes was Sri Lanka's best for the sixth wicket as the tourists dominated the second and third sessions to boost their hopes of first Test win on Indian soil.

Mahela, who stepped down as captain in March to concentrate on his batting, reached three figures off 150 balls with 10 fours and a six and brought up his double century just before stumps after eight hours at the crease.

If we can get a good lead, it will give the bowlers a good opportunity to have a go at the Indians Mahela Jayawardene

He also overtook Inzamam-ul Haq, Javed Miandad and Graham Gooch to become the ninth highest scorer in Test cricket with 8,951 runs from 108 matches.

His double-century brought him level with his present captain Kumar Sangakkara, former team-mate Marvan Atapattu and Miandad, who all have six scores of 200 or more.

Only Don Bradman (12), Brian Lara (nine) and Wally Hammond (seven) have reached 200 more times.

"I have learnt to manage my innings better because I know what my weaknesses are," said Jayawardene.

"It was good to get my first hundred in India and it was important in the context of the match.

"There is ample time left in the game. If we can get a good lead, it will give the bowlers a good opportunity to have a go at the Indians.

606: DEBATE Mahela has made nearly 9000 runs in 108 Tests and is easily one of the most underrated batsmen NM

"The wicket will wear out a bit and we have quality spinners to exploit that. There will be added pressure on the Indian batsmen as well."

India struggled on a pitch which offered no assistance to either the fast bowlers or the spinners, with Amit Mishra finishing the day wicketless at the cost of 152 runs from 43 overs.

Paceman Sharma removed Samaraweera for 70 with the second new ball thanks to a superb catch from Yuvraj Singh at short square leg.

Harbhajan took the other wicket just before lunch when he had Angelo Mathews caught one-handed by a leaping Gautam Gambhir, although replays suggested the ball had hit the batsman's pad.

Sri Lanka will hope their master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will have better luck when India bat again.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version