Close Sri Lanka 477 for 5 (Tillekeratne 143*, Samaraweera 68*) lead West Indies 390 (Lara 221) by 87 runs
Scorecard

Just as he did in the first Test at Galle, Hashan Tillekeratne scored a century to carry Sri Lanka into the lead after a second-day collapse by the West Indies. Parallels between this game and the Galle match - where West Indies also threw away a promising position - are becoming increasingly uncanny.

Where Tillekeratne departed from the script of the first Test was in the nature of his innings. At Galle he produced a typically limpet-like knock, compiling 105 from 247 balls with only three boundaries; here he batted with a freedom he has seldom shown at Test level. Approaching the bowling with controlled aggression, Tillekeratne reached 143 from 230 balls with 17 fours. It was Tillekeratne's ninth and highest Test century, beating the 136* he scored against India earlier this year.

He was particularly severe on Marlon Black, who haemorrhaged 108 runs in his 24 overs. Tillekeratne shared a partnership of 141 with Russel Arnold, who scored a gritty 65, and has so far added 132 with allrounder Thilan Samaraweera (68*) for the sixth wicket. Apart from Arnold, the only other casualty of the day was Mahela Jayawardene who was dubiously adjudged lbw to Merv Dillon for 39 when the ball appeared to be heading over the stumps.

None of the West Indian bowlers had much success, with Carl Hooper bowling 30 tightish overs for 76 and Dillon proving the most threatening of the seamers.

With two day's play remaining and a man called Muralitharan flexing his freakish wrists in the pavilion, a whitewash looms for the West Indians.

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