Sangakkara and Jayawardene make South Africa toil

COLOMBO, July 28 (Reuters) - Kumar Sangakkara stroked a stylish 10th test century to lift Sri Lanka to 227 for two at lunch on the second day of the first test against South Africa today.

Sangakkara, 28, dropped and bowled off a no ball before reaching double figures, was the more aggressive of the pair as he scored 108 from 139 balls, including 14 boundaries.

Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain in the absence of the injured Marvan Atapattu, provided rock-solid support with a chanceless unbeaten 99.

The pair, who came together with Sri Lanka wobbling on 14 for two after bowling out South Africa for 169, extended their unbroken third-wicket partnership to 213, a record against South Africa.

The previous record was 192 set by the same players at the same venue in 2004.

The hosts, who started the morning on 128 for two, led South Africa by 58 runs at the interval.

The closest the tourists came to breaking through was when a difficult low chance was dropped in the deep after Sangakkara lofted left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, a mis-field that brought up his hundred.

South Africa's lacklustre bowlers, unable to find their best rhythm after a 10-week break, toiled throughout on a pitch that was slow and flat.

Dale Steyn was the most successful bowler after his new ball strike yesterday, finishing with figures of two for 52 from 11 overs.

The second test of the two-match series will be played at the P Sara Oval, also in Colombo, from August 4.

REUTERS PM SSC1359