Atapattu, Sangakkara make merry

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu scored his sixth Test double century on Saturday to put his side in command of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. At close on Day two, Atapattu was 202 not out in Sri Lanka’s total of 443 for one in reply to Zimbabwe’s first innings 228. He had added 343 for the unbroken second wicket stand with Kumar Sangakkara (186 not out), who was dropped before he scored.

Atapattu, who scored 170 in the first Test, was a model of orthodoxy in facing 280 balls and hitting a six and 30 fours, most of them driven straight or through the covers.

The more innovative Sangakkara ventured square of the wicket more often, facing 248 balls and hitting 28 fours and two sixes for his fifth century.