Jayawardene returned to form with his 24th Test century as Lanka took complete control of the first Test against Bangladesh.
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Jayawardene (129no) shared a third-wicket stand of 135 with Kumar Sangakkara (67) as the tourists recovered in their second innings from 18 for two to 291 for four by stumps, and a lead of 406.Mahbubul Alam and Mashrafe Mortaza took a wicket each with the new ball, before Sri Lanka's powerhouse middle-order pair got set.Having been dismissed for 178 when Muttiah Muralitharan (six for 49) saw off number 11 Alam caught at short-leg in the first over of play following a half-hour delay for fog, Bangladesh already trailed by 115 runs on first innings.
Tea Report - Day Three
Jayawardene (83no) returned to form in a third-wicket stand of 135 with Kumar Sangakkara (67no) as the tourists recovered in their second innings from 18 for two to 190 for three by tea, and a lead of 305.
Jayawardene passed his 50 at a slightly quicker tempo and by the end of the session, in company with Thilan Samaraweera, had hit nine fours and a six from 157 balls.Mahbubul Alam and Mashrafe Mortaza took a wicket each with the new ball, before Sri Lanka's powerhouse middle-order pair got set.
Lunch Report - Day Three
Both Alam and Mortaza made early inroads into Sri Lanka's top order before the tourists steadied the ship to reach 53 for two in their second innings at lunch on day three of the first Test.Having been dismissed for 178 in their first innings to trail by 115 runs, Bangladesh needed an early breakthrough and the duo duly obliged, removing both openers to leave Sri Lanka 18 for two.But stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene ensured no further damage was done in reaching 25 and 11 respectively at the interval.Alam struck first when he dismissed Malinda Warnapura lbw for eight with a short of a length delivery that hit him on the knee roll.Bangladesh's joy was doubled when Mortaza bowled Michael Vandoort through bat and pad with an outswinger the opener tried to work through the on-side.However, that brought Sangakkara and Jayawardene together and the pair made untroubled progress to extend the lead to 168.
End of Innings ReportMuttiah Muralitharan picked up his sixth wicket as Bangladesh were bowled out for 178 in their first innings shortly after the start day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Fog meant play was delayed by 30 minutes at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur but when the teams did eventually emerge, Bangladesh's resistance lasted a mere one over.
Resuming on 177 for nine, Mushfiqur Rahim took a single of Muralitharan before the off-spinner accounted for Mahbubul Alam when the number 11 popped up a catch to Malinda Warnapura at forward short-leg. Muralitharan finished with figures of six for 49.
That left the home side with a first-innings deficit of 115 and facing a stiff task to avoid defeat in the opener of a two-Test series.
