Agence France Presse

Harare, May 16:

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu and his compatriot Kumar Sangakkara helped themselves to a double century apiece off the inexperienced Zimbabwe bowlers on the third day of the second Test at Queens Sports Club here on Sunday. Atapattu scored a polished 249 and Sangakkara a more spirited and adventurous 270. Not content with that, Atapattu allowed Mahela Jayawardene to score an unbeaten century before declaring on a massive 713-3, leaving Zimbabwe an impossible second innings total of 485 to get to and make the tourists bat again.

At the close Zimbabwe had lost two wickets to Nuwan Zoysa in gathering 44 runs. Atapattu’s innings was 26 runs better than his previous top score in Tests. He struck a six and 36 boundaries. It was his sixth double hundred. Sangakkara’s innings was an improvement of 40 runs over his previous career best. His second double century contained two sixes and 35 fours.