Jayawardene leads the way
Sri Lanka finished day two of the first Test against West Indies in total control after declaring on 476 for eight and then reducing the hosts to 29 for one in Guyana.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene completed his 22nd Test century and Chaminda Vaas weighed in with 54 as the tourists continued to dominate with the bat at Providence Stadium.
Jayawardene called his batsmen in an hour into the evening session to allow his bowlers the chance to make inroads into the Windies top order.
And Vaas made the breakthrough in only the third over when he had Chris Gayle trapped leg before without scoring.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, returning to the international fold after a 10-month absence, arrived at the crease with the score on four for one and managed to steady the ship somewhat alongside Devon Smith.
The former captain was 21 not out at stumps with Smith unbeaten on eight, although West Indies trail by a daunting 447 heading into day three.
Earlier, Jayawardene made a patient 136 to build on the maiden Test ton of opener Malinda Warnapura and half-centuries from Michael Vandort and Kumar Sangakkara yesterday.
Jayawardene and Chaminda Vaas during a seventh-wicket stand of 126 © Getty ImagesBuy this photoResuming on 269 for four, Sri Lanka added eight to their overnight total before Tillakaratne Dilshan became fast bowler Jerome Taylor’s fourth victim of the innings when he was trapped lbw for 20.
Jayawardene survived a scare when he was dropped on 43 by Gayle at first slip, but took advantage of his let-off and had moved on to 59 not out by lunch.
Prasanna Jayawardene - put down by Sulieman Benn at short midwicket on 10 - perished soon after the interval, bowled off his pads by Daren Powell without adding to his lunchtime score of 21.
Mahela Jayawardene and Vaas put on 126 for the seventh wicket, the former going to his century off 189 balls, having hit 10 fours.
Jayawardene survived another dropped catch off Gayle soon after tea when Dwayne Bravo got down low to his right at short fine leg and got both hands to the ball but could not hold on.
But his controlled innings was finally brought to an end when he was given out lbw attempting to reverse sweep.
Gayle got some reward for his efforts when he had Thilan Thushara caught by substitute fielder Travis Dowlin at deep midwicket.
Vaas was able to reach his 13th Test half-century before the declaration and finished unbeaten on 54 alongside Rangana Herath.
Benn, meanwhile, became the 21st West Indies bowler in history to concede more than 100 runs on his Test debut.
Mahela Jayawardene cuts behind square as West Indies toil in Guyana © Getty Images
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