Sri Lanka dominate

The Sri Lankans decimated Sussex’s bowling attack and managed to amount 521 runs for the loss of just five wickets by the time they declared, leaving them firmly in charge.

Sussex began their innings after tea and lost the wicket of Richard Montgomerie before the close to Laslith Malinga. Montgomerie made 27; his opening partner, Carl Hopkinson, hit 10 unbeaten runs before umpires Benson and Willey called for stumps.

Alike Upul Tharanga who notched up 140 runs yesterday, Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Kapugedera dominated today’s play. Both Samaraweera and Kapugedera managed to make centuries with the latter of the two going on to score an excellent 134 from 229 balls on a cold day. These two batsmen were at the crease when Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, called the visitors’ innings to a close, leaving Sussex with a lot to do if they have hopes of getting anything out of the four-day match.

Eight bowlers had to toil against the Sri Lankan batsmen who had dictated from the first ball of their innings to the last; no-one managed to pick up more than one wicket.

Sussex must hold on well tomorrow otherwise the possibility that Sri Lanka could bowl them out twice in the space of two days will be a very real one.

Sri Lanka 521-5 declared
Upul Tharanga 140, Chamara Kapugedera 134*
Timothy Linley 1/56, Christopher Nash 1/63

Sussex 40/1
Richard Montgomerie 27, Carl Hopkinson 10*
Laslith Malinga 1/30