India start fightback in Colombo

Kumar Sangakkara scored his seventh Test double hundred as Sri Lanka continued to pound India in the second Test.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA // Kumar Sangakkara scored a classy 219 and Mahela Jayawardene struck 174 as Sri Lanka declared its first innings at 642 for four on day two of the second Test against India. Though the declaration came immediately after Jayawardene's dismissal in the final session, there was still tie for India to start a determined reply with Virender Sehwag hitting a unbeaten half-century as the visitors reached 95 without loss in 18 overs. Three batsmen scored centuries on a perfect batting pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club to help Sri Lanka build its impressive total. Sangakkara's 219 came off 335 balls and included 29 boundaries. He was part of two century partnerships (174 and 193) with Tharanga Paranavitana and Jayawardene before being caught by Rahul Dravid in the slip off Sehwag soon after the lunch break. Sangakkara's seventh double-century has put him equal on the third spot with England's Walter Hammond for the most 200s, behind the West Indies' Brian Lara (9) and Australia's Don Bradman (12). Jayawardene struck his 174 off 240 balls, hitting 20 boundaries and a six. His 28th Test hundred was his 10th at the Sinhalese Sports Club, surpassing Bradman's nine centuries at Melbourne Cricket Ground to become the highest century-maker at a single ground. However the Sri Lankan has appeared in 12 more matches at the venue than the Australian all time great played at MCG. Paranavitana had made 100 and Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 76 when Sri Lanka declared its first innings. Sehwag returned bowling figures one for 71 while his fellow spinners Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh and the seamer Ishant Sharma also captured a wicket each. Sehwag more effective with the bat, rattling up 64 off 63 balls and hitting 12 boundaries during India's reply. Murali Vijay, who came in as a a replacement to injured regular opener Gautam Gambhir, was 22 not out. Sri Lanka won he first Test at Galle last week to lead the three-match series 1-0. * AP

India 1st Innings Murali Vijay not out 22 Virender Sehwag not out 64 Extras: (7nb, 2w) 9 TOTAL: (without loss) 95 Overs: 18. Batting time: 95 minutes. Still to bat: Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Abhimanyu Mithun, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha. Bowling: Dammika Prasad 3-0-27-0 (3nb), Dilhara Fernando 7-0-31-0 (4nb, 1w), Angelo Mathews 4-0-13-0 (1w), Suraj Randiv 3-1-15-0, Ajantha Mendis 1-0-9-0. Sri Lanka 1st Innings (Overnight 312 for two) Tharanga Paranavitana b Sharma 100 Tillakaratne Dilshan c Laxman b Ojha 54 Kumar Sangakkara c Dravid b Sehwag 219 Mahela Jayawardene c Raina b Harbhajan 174 Thilan Samaraweera not out 76 Extras: (4b, 8lb, 5nb, 2w) 19 TOTAL: (for 4 wickets declared) 642 Overs: 159.4. Batting time: 635 minutes. Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-273, 3-466, 4-642. Did not bat: Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis. Bowling: Abhimanyu Mithun 23-5-117-0, Ishant Sharma 23-5-102-1 (3nb), Pragyan Ojha 46-9-172-1 (2nb), Harbhajan Singh 42.4-4-147-1 (2w), Virender Sehwag 20-0-71-1, Suresh Raina 5-0-21-0.

Umpires: Daryl Harper and Rod Tucker, Australia. TV Umpire: Ranmore Martinesz, Sri Lanka. Match Referee: Andy Pycroft, Zimbabwe. Toss: won by Sri Lanka. Series: Sri Lanka leads three-match series 1-0.