Sangakkara double leads way

Kumar Sangakkara bats during day two of the second test at the Basin Reserve. Photo / Getty

Sri Lanka turned the second test on its head in less than a day to be in charge after the second day of the Basin Reserve test against New Zealand today.

A brilliant 203 by Kumar Sangakkara carried Sri Lanka off the ropes and into a position from which they could conceivably take control of the match tomorrow.

At stumps, New Zealand were 22 without loss in their second innings, still 113 behind Sri Lanka. Openers Hamish Rutherford and Tom Latham were on 12 and nine respectively.

When Sri Lanka started the day at 78 for five, they were staring at a large hole.

However Sangakkara was in increasingly imperious form as he went to his 38th test century, and fourth against New Zealand, then marched onto his 11th double ton. Only the great Don Bradman with 12 has scored more in tests.

Sangakkara had help from Dinesh Chandimal, recalled after missing the first test loss in Christchurch, and the pair put on 130 for the sixth wicket, with Chandimal completing his sixth test half century, making 67.

The pitch played better for the batsmen today than yesterday, when 15 wickets fell, although there was still some sideways movement for the seamers and turn for spinner Mark Craig.

Sangakkara was chanceless until late in the innings when a couple of half chances fell safely.

He dominated the strike cleverly in a ninth-wicket stand with Suranga Lakmal and went to his double century with a superb cover driven four off medium pacer Jimmy Neesham, immediately leaping high and punching the air.

He was out shortly after to a terrific leaping catch at point by Trent Boult, having batted almost seven hours and faced 306 deliveries, with 18 fours and three sixes.

Doug Bracewell and Neesham finished with three wickets apiece, Boult two, and Tim Southee and Craig one each.

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