Sangakkara and Kapugedera pile up tons

Sri Lankans 450 for 3 (Sangakkara 174, Kapugedera 117*, Tharanga 88, Udawatte 55) lead Zimbabwe Select XI 159 by 291 runs
Scorecard

Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera highlighted the huge gulf in class on show in Bulawayo as they both struck centuries in a 287-run third-wicket stand with the Sri Lankans closing on 450 for 3, a lead of 291 over the Select XI.

The opening day was one-way traffic and the visitors became even more dominant as they piled on the runs at more than four-an-over. The top four all passed fifty and Sangakkara led the way as he compiled 174 off 273 balls. Kapugedera wasn't far behind, ending the day unbeaten on 117 after Sangakkara fell moments before the close.

Play began half-an-hour early to make up for the lost time yesterday and the openers, Mahela Udawatte and Upul Tharanga, were quickly into their stride and scoring at a good rate. The pair brought up their half-centuries in similar style with eye-catching cover drives off pace bowler Shingi Masakadza.

Prosper Utseya provided the first breakthrough in the 14th over of the day when he bowled Udawatte and then removed Tharanga 12 short of his century when Stuart Matsikenyeri held him at mid-off.

The Select XI had to wait a long time for their next success as Sangakkara and Kapugedara remorselessly piled on the runs. Utseya and legspinner Graeme Cremer got through plenty of overs, but were largely easy pickings for the batsmen while the pace bowlers couldn't keep the runs down either.

One over before the close Elton Chigumbura finally removed Sangakkara, but there is plenty of batting to come.