Sanga spearheads Sri Lanka

Scores 24th test ton as 135 not out with rain again curtailing Sri Lanka at 294 for five

COLOMBO, (Reuters) - A century by skipper Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka to reach 294 for five in their first innings after an early collapse on another rain-shortened day of the second test against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The elegant left-hander was unbeaten on 135, stroking 16 fours and a six before heavy rain washed out play for the rest of the day 25 minutes before the scheduled tea break.

With Sangakkara going strong at one end, West Indies targeted batsmen at the other end and captured two in the afternoon session.

Thilan Samaraweera joined his captain with Sri Lanka struggling at 34-3 and they batted throughout the second morning.

Samaraweera outscored his captain beating him to his fifty, reaching it in 103 balls with six fours and one six.

Sangakkara greeted spinner Shane Shillingford, who came on to bowl the eighth over of the morning, with a boundary.

After putting on 170 for the fourth wicket, Samaraweera was dismissed for 80 when he pulled Dwayne Bravo down fine leg to Shane Shillingford. He faced 170 balls and struck eight fours and one six.

Shillingford’s bowling action is under a cloud after he was reported to the International Cricket Council by the umpires after the Galle Test.

With Sri Lanka resuming on their overnight score of 84-3, West Indies rang the bowling changes constantly but endured a frustrating day.

Angelo Mathews lived dangerously attempting extravagant shots and was fortunate not to fall while on 12 after his mis-hit shot dropped in the middle of three fielders who made valiant attempts to catch it.

Kemar Roach picked up his third wicket of the innings by forcing Mathews to edge a catch behind the wicket for 25.

The three-match series is level at 0-0 after the first test was drawn.