Jayasuriya leads Sri Lanka run chase in 2nd test

COLOMBO, Aug 7 (Reuters) Opener Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 73 to guide Sri Lanka to 163 for three at tea in the second test against South Africa today, leaving the hosts 189 shy of victory.

Jayasuriya cracked nine fours and three sixes in his 74-ball blitz, but South Africa remain on top after capturing three top order wickets.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 25 with middle order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan on 17 at the break.

South Africa, resuming on 257 for seven, were bowled out for 311, Muttiah Muralitharan snapping up the wickets of Nicky Boje, Dale Steyn and Mark Boucher.

Boucher had frustrated the hosts with an invaluable 65 from 102 balls, sharing important stands with Boje worth 45 and last-man Makhaya Ntini worth 29.

Muralitharan finished with 7-97 to leave him with 12 for 225 in the game, his fourth successive ten-wicket haul and the 18th of his career.

The 34-year-old off spinner equalled his own world record for the most consecutive 10-fors, a feat he last achieved in 2001/02.

Muralitharan had Boje caught behind, trapped Steyn lbw and then ended Boucher's resistance after a remarkable reflex catch at short leg from Tillakaratne Dilshan.

RECORD RUN CHASE Sri Lanka were left needing to break the record for the highest successful run chase on home. The current mark stands at the 326 chased by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in 1997/98.

The host's started badly as Upul Tharanga edged a lifting delivery to slip where Herschelle Gibbs took a sharp chance.

Kumar Sangakkara, dropped on 28, counter-attacked with an aggressive cameo, hitting Dale Steyn out of the attack with four boundaries in an over before lunch.

After the interval Jayasuriya took over the role of aggressor, smashing veteran seamer Shaun Pollock for two huge straight sixes.

But Pollock held his nerve and hit back with the wicket of Sangakkara, who was caught at point by Hashim Amla for 39, ending an 82-run stand.

Sri Lanka were fortunate not to lose two more quick wickets as Amla spilled a simple short leg catch off Jayasuriya, and Jayawardene was dropped in the gully having made just two.

However, Jayasuriya's luck ran out as Amla made amends for his earlier miss with a fine one-handed bat-pad catch off Boje, leaving Sri Lanka in trouble on 121 for three.

Jayawardene and Dilshan consolidated before the interval, adding 40 runs.

Sri Lanka won the first test in the two-match series by an innings and 153 runs.

REUTERS PM RAI1619