A double century from Kumar Sangakkara has put Sri Lanka in control of the second Test against New Zealand after day two at Wellington.
Sangakkara had already notched his 38th Test-match century before the evening session began as he returned to the crease on 139 not out, while he was partnered by Rangana Herath, unbeaten on 13.
However, Herath added just two more runs before he was caught behind by BJ Watling off the bowling of Trent Boult, a decision which was upheld on review.
Suranga Lakmal joined Sangakkara at the crease, and the 37-year-old immediately put his foot on the accelerator as he found the boundary with regularity to pass 150.
Sri Lanka surged past the 300-run mark and then into a 100-run lead as Sangakkara took the attack to the Kiwi bowlers to put his team in charge of the match.
Lakmal played his part in a 50-plus partnership as he importantly blocked out to keep Sangakkara company as the veteran closed in on his double century.
The Lions legend achieved the feat as he found the boundary with a textbook cover drive while on 199. It is the 11th time in his career that he has reached the milestone, with only Sir Donald Bradman having made more double centuries with 12.
Sangakkara's outstanding innings was brought to an end with a brilliant catch from Boult as he snagged the ball one handed as the batsman tried blast the ball through the gully region to dismiss the veteran for 203.
Sri Lanka's innings came to an end one ball later as Lakmal was stumped by Watling off the bowling of Mark Craig to leave the tourists all out for 356, with a first innings lead of 135.
New Zealand closed the day on 22-0 with Hamish Rutherford and Tom Latham unbeaten at the crease, still trailing the Lions by 113 runs.
Simon Sinclair
