Sangakkara hits century:

Sri Lanka in command

Kumar Sangakkara hit a superbly-crafted century to put Sri Lanka in a strong position to press for their first Test win of the year on the third day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

Sangakkara’s 108 enabled Sri Lanka to reach 256 for seven in their second innings - an overall lead of 426, eight runs more than the highest successful run chase in Test history.

The left-handed former captain shared stands of 94 with Thilan Samaraweera and 104 with rookie wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal as Sri Lanka went in search of their first win in four Test tours of South Africa.

Sangakkara, whose first three innings in the series were 1, 2 and 0, had not added to his overnight score of three when he edged the fourth ball of the morning, from Morne Morkel, towards Graeme Smith at first slip.

Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher dived for the ball, obscuring Smith’s vision, and the South African captain put down the chance.

Sangakkara made the home side pay as he constructed a classy innings in overcast and gloomy conditions.

Overnight and morning rain delayed the start by an hour and the floodlights were on during most of the day.

Sangakkara reached his fifty off 102 balls with four fours and then took command, scoring his second fifty off only 59 deliveries, adding nine more boundaries. It was his 28th Test century.

First innings century-maker Samaraweera shared a crucial fourth wicket stand with Sangakkara after the first three wickets had fallen for 44 runs to give South Africa hope of bowling themselves back into contention despite trailing by 170 runs on the first innings.

Samaraweera made 43 before being deceived by a googly from Imran Tahir which he edged into his stumps.

Sri Lanka pressed home their advantage as Sangakkara and new cap Chandimal scored at almost a run a minute. Chandimal followed up his first innings 58 with 54.

With the light fading, Chandimal was caught behind off Dale Steyn.

Sangakkara followed in the next over when he hit Tahir to long-on. Bad light stopped play soon afterwards.

Fast bowling debutant Marchant de Lange, who took seven for 81 in the first innings, claimed the key wicket of Mahela Jayawardene as Sri Lanka struggled early in the day. AFP

	Sri Lanka 2nd innings

T. Paranavitana c Prince b Morkel 	 09
T. Dilshan c Smith b Steyn 		 04
K. Sangakkara c Smith b Imran Tahir 	108
M. Jayawardene lbw b De Lange 		 14
T. Samaraweera b Imran Tahir 		 43
A. Mathews c Boucher b Steyn 		 03
D. Chandimal c Boucher b Steyn 		 54
T. Perera not out 			 06
R. Herath not out 			 05
Extras (b5, lb2, nb2, w1) 		 10
Total (7 wkts, 70.3 overs) 		256




Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Dilshan), 2-20 (Paranavitana), 3-44 (Jayawardene), 
		4-138 (Samaraweera), 5-141 (Mathews), 6-245 (Chandimal), 7-245 (Sangakkara)




Bowling: Morkel 15-4-43-1, Steyn 16-3-54-3, De Lange 12.3-1-45-1 (1nb, 
		1w), Kallis 11-1-43-0, Imran Tahir 16-1-64-2 (1nb)