Jayawardene presses on

Mahela Jayawardene spearheads Sri Lanka's bid to extend their lead after the loss of two early wickets

Captain Mahela Jayawardene returned to form with his 24th Test century as Sri Lanka took complete control on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Jayawardene finished unbeaten on 129, sharing a third-wicket stand of 135 with Kumar Sangakkara, who made 67, as the tourists recovered from 18 for two to reach 291 for four in their second innings - a lead of 406.

Mahbubul Alam and Mashrafe Mortaza took a wicket each with the new ball before Sri Lanka’s powerhouse middle-order pair made hay.

Having been bowled out for 178 when Muttiah Muralitharan had Alam caught at short-leg in the first over of play today, Bangladesh already trailed by 115 on first innings.

But Alam trapped Malinda Warnapura lbw with one which kept low, and Mortaza bowled Michael Vandort between bat and pad as the left-hander attempted to work the ball through the leg side.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene led the Sri Lanka fightback, the former going to his half-century, off 112 balls, after lunch.

He hit only four boundaries on the way to that milestone but doubled his tally before he was caught behind off Mehrab Hossain Jr.

Jayawardene brought up his fifty at a slightly quicker tempo and, in partnership with Thilan Samaraweera, went on to hit 12 fours and a six in his 177-ball hundred.

Jayawardene lost Samaraweera to the last ball of the day - bowled by Mortaza - ending a fourth-wicket stand of 138 which already ensured the hosts would face a mountainous task to save the game over the final two days.

There will, however, be no play tomorrow, which will be a rest day - the first in a Test since 2001 - due to parliamentary elections being held in Bangladesh.