Mahela Jayawardene became Test cricket’s sixth-highest run-getter with a glorious unbeaten double-century as Sri Lanka compounded Bangladesh’s misery on Wednesday in the first Test in Dhaka.
Mahela Jayawardene’s 203 and Kithuruwan Vithanage’s maiden century (103no) helped Sri Lanka declare their first innings at 6-730 on the third day.
This was the highest score by any team against Bangladesh.
In the second innings, Bangladesh were reduced to 1-34 at stumps. The hosts still trail by 463 runs.
Marshall Ayub (11no) and Shamsur Rahman (9no) will resume on the fourth day. Tamim Iqbal was the batsman to go on 11 when he played a suicidal shot against Rangana Herath who finished the day with 1-8.
Jayawardene leapfrogs Australian Allan Border (11,174 runs) and West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,219) to move behind record-holder Sachin Tendulkar, Australia’s Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara on the all-time list.
The 36-year-old former captain, who has 11,236 runs in 142 matches, equalled teammate and close friend Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan record of 33 Test centuries.
Jayawardene and Vithanage’s heroics gave Sri Lanka a gigantic 498-run first-innings lead over the hosts.
They shared 176 runs at quick pace to give the side enough time to bowl Bangladesh out in the second innings and press for an innings victory.
Jayawardene led Sri Lanka’s run spree on the third day having shared two century partnerships with Mathews and Vithanage. He reached 179 with Mathews and an unbroken 176 with Vithanage to take the match away from Bangladesh.
Vithanage played in one-day style and completed his maiden century in 99 balls. He hit 12 fours and two sixes.
Jayawardene was particularly harsh on the pacemen who also helped him by bowling too short frequently. The former skipper earned his century with consecutive fours against Robiul Islam. He reached his double century with a six off Nasir and subsequently captain Mathews declared the innings.
Jayawardene smashed 16 fours and four sixes in his fifth century against Bangladesh in just 12 matches.
Shakib Al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-159 while Sohag Gazi claimed 2-130.