Kumar Sangakkara became the leading century-maker among active Test players as he led a Sri Lankan recovery on Tuesday’s opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
The tourists, who won the first Test by an innings and 248 runs in Dhaka, were 2-49 but finished at 5-314 by stumps.
Sangakkara, 36, was unbeaten on 160, his 34th Test hundred that drew him level with retired Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara on the all-time list of century-makers.
The four above them are also all retired – Sachin Tendukar (51 centuries), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41) and Rahul Dravid (36).
Sangakkara, playing his 122nd Test, followed his 75 in the first Test with an impressive innings containing 19 boundaries and three sixes.
Mahela Jayawardene helped his close friend and long-time ally put on 178 for the third wicket.
Jayawardene, who compiled an unbeaten 203 in the Dhaka Test, continued his good form with 72 before being lbw to offspinner Mohammad Mahmudullah in the final session.
Shakib Al Hasan removed Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Angelo Mathews before stumps as Sri Lanka slipped from 2-227 to 5-312, but were still in a strong position.
Chandimal said Sangakkara and Jayawardene were an inspiration for the entire team.
“They are wily old foxes and an inspiration for all. We can learn so much from them. They work hard during practice and they always talk about cricket even when they are off the field.
“This is not an easy wicket to bat on because the ball came really slow off it. It is important that when you get set, you definitely have to bat throughout the innings. And that is what Sangakkara did.”
Bangladesh, chasing a series-levelling win, were set for a long haul on the slow pitch after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted.
Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva managed just eight runs in the first eight overs and plodded to 0-30 after 15 when Bangladesh broke through.
Offspinner Sohag Gazi, who shared the new ball with Al-Amin Hossain, claimed first Test century-maker Silva lbw for 11.
Left-hander Karunaratne settled in to score 31 but then slashed at a wide ball from Al-Amin and was caught at point.
Sangakkara, who reached his half-century by lofting Mahmudullah for six over mid-wicket, then hit with three boundaries off one Gazi over.
