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Sangakkara puts Sri Lanka in control

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A double century from Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka finish day two of the second Test against New Zealand in the ascendancy.

Fresh from becoming only the fifth batsman - and first Sri Lankan - to pass 12,000 Test runs on Saturday's opening day, Sangakkara made the Black Caps bowlers toil at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The 37-year-old scored his 11th Test double century to help the tourists to a first-innings 356 all out to lead by 135 runs - an impressive feat considering they started the day 78 for five.

Kumar Sangakkara is just one double century short of Don Bradman's Test record after making 203 against New Zealand today

New Zealand reached the close on 22 without loss in response to trail the tourists by 113 runs.

The Black Caps bowlers sought to snare the five remaining wickets when play resumed on Sunday morning, but Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal had other ideas.

Seamers Trent Boult, Tim Southee and then Doug Bracewell - so impressive on the opening day - had little joy as Sangakkara and Chandimal played flawlessly to steer Sri Lanka to 159 at lunch.

It did not get any better for the hosts after the interval as Chandimal passed 1,000 Test runs before his and Sangakkara's sixth-wicket partnership ended on 130 when Jimmy Neesham tempted him to drive and he edged behind.

Sangakkara cut Mark Craig to bring up his 38th Test century moments later and useful stands with Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal saw Sri Lanka pass the New Zealand total and then build a decent lead.

Sangakkara blazed a peach of a cover drive after tea to bring up his 11th Test double century - he needs one more to equal Sir Donald Bradman's world record of 12 - before falling on 203 to a stunning Boult catch at backward point to give Neesham his third wicket of the innings.

Lakmal danced down the wicket to slog the very next delivery, from Craig, but got it horribly wrong and was stumped by BJ Watling.

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford saw out the remaining 11 overs without incident.


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