Sri Lanka increase lead in Bangladesh Test

Kumar Sangakkara hit a fine half-century to put Sri Lanka in control on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh here on Monday.

Sangakkara hit four fours in his 103-ball 54 as the visitors reached 187-4 in their second innings at tea to take their overall lead to a commanding 363.

Thilan Samarweera (33) and first-innings centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan (15) were the not out batsmen at the break.

Sangakkara reached his 28th Test half-century with a pulled four to the midwicket before playing on to his stumps off part-time spinner and captain Mohammad Ashraful.

He shared a 68-run stand for the third wicket with skipper Mahela Jayawardene after Sri Lanka had lost both their openers with 55 on board.

The prolific Sri Lankan captain failed with the bat in his 100th Test, tamely chipping left-arm spinner Enamul Haque to short cover after making 22 off as many as 92 balls.

He had scored 11 in Sri Lanka's first innings total of 384.

Sangakkara also added 42 runs for the fourth wicket with Samarweera, who appeared at ease during his unbeaten 66-ball knock.

The day's first wicket fell when makeshift opener Prasanna Jayawardene offered a tame catch off Ashraful to Shakib Al Hasan at short midwicket for 27.

Paceman Shahadat Hossain then removed the other opening batsman Malinda Warnapura (28) two balls later, umpire Nigel Llong adjudging the batsman leg before wicket.

Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Dhaka by 107 runs.