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No worries Sri Lanka's Atapattu posts double ton against England
GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Marvan Atapattu blazed his fourth test double century, as Sri Lanka declared at 470 for five, 32 minutes before draw of stumps Friday on the second day of the series-opening cricket test against England. In reply, England openers Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick batted cautiously, scoring 27 runs. Sri Lanka's star spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, came in to bowl in the second over of the innings, but failed to cause any damage. Atapattu remained not out on 201 scored off 536 ball with 18 boundaries. This was his first test double century against England and fourth in his career. He scored double tons twice against Zimbabwe and one against Pakistan. Atapattu became the 10th Sri Lankan ever to score a double test century. Sri Lanka's leading test run-getter, Aravinda de Silva, emerging from a lean spell in his career, also showed some class as he scored his 19th hundred in his 87th test.
Dropped in recent months in favor of younger players, De Silva responded with 106. The 35-year-old has been in and out of the team and showed that he was still a master batsman. Sri Lanka resumed with an overnight score of 221 for two with all its batsmen showing no worries facing England's attack. De Silva reached three figures after lunch in 224 balls by sweeping Robert Croft's off spin for his 10th four. Atapattu and De Silva made smooth progress against an England attack in which neither Croft nor Ashley Giles turned the ball much. De Silva was out when he failed to respond to Atapattu's call for a second run and was run out at the non-striker's end, having faced 243 balls and hit 10 fours and one six.
Mahela Jayawardene made a quick fire from test standard when he hit 61 off 94 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Earlier, match referee Hunamant Singh of India warned team captains to avoid verbal clashes on the field after Thursday's incident involving de Silva and Andrew Caddick. Singh gave both sides a reminder Friday that he will not tolerate a lack of discipline. The incident occurred before stumps on the opening day, when de Silva drove Caddick to the cover boundary and then pointed the direction to show the England fast bowler where the ball had gone. Caddick responded by having words with the batsman before sarcastically applauding. The incident was noted by Singh, who sought the opinion of umpires before speaking to the two sides. "I have had a word with the concerned people of the two teams and warned against a repeat of it, which will invite penalties," Singh said. Sri Lanka and England are meeting for the first time in a test series.
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