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Cricket-Jayasuriya, Atapattu put Sri Lanka on top

HARARE, May 7 - Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan
Atapattu smashed unbeaten centuries as Sri Lanka enforced their
superiority over Zimbabwe on the second day of the first test on
Friday.

Jayasuriya's 123 and Atapattu's 100 guided Sri Lanka to 230
without loss at lunch in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of
199.

Jayasuriya blazed his runs, his 12th century, off 113 balls
with 16 fours and two sixes.

Atapattu's more measured innings took 154 balls and included
14 fours.

With the visitors resuming on 67 without loss, openers
Jayasuriya and Atapattu were seldom challenged by Zimbabwe's
largely inexperienced attack.

The Zimbabweans have bowled just four maidens in an innings
of 44 overs.

Jayasuriya's aggressive strokeplay helped him to score many
of his runs with cuts, hooks and pulls square off the wicket.

The more orthodox Atapattu drove studiously and straight.

Jayasuriya raced to his century off 90 balls, while Atapattu
reached his four balls before the end of the morning session.

Together they scored 163 runs in the session at a runrate of
5.8.

Zimbabwe squandered a chance to dismiss Atapattu for 59,
when he drove at a delivery from medium pacer Douglas Hondo and
offered a difficult catch to Brendan Taylor at mid-on.

Taylor dived and managed to get his fingertips to the
dipping chance, but dropped it.

Zimbabwe are fielding an inexperienced side in the match
after 15 experienced players made themselves unavailable in a
dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU).

The rebels want binding arbitration to resolve their
differences with the ZCU, who have offered mediation, which is
not binding.

The rebels have given the ZCU until Friday to agree to
arbitration, failing which they say they will cancel their
contracts.

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