Friends turn record holders

Their impressive partnership of 471 is already the second highest in Test history as they pounded a hapless South African bowling attack to reach 485 for two at the close on Day Two of the first Test of this series. South Africa had folded up yesterday for 169.

Sangakkara scored his third double century8212;his career-best score8212;and Jayawardene8217;s love affair with South African bowlers since 2000 continued with his second in successive series. One by one, they inked their name into history as several amazing records began to tumble in an avalanche of runs.

Yet to their credit, the left and right combination, were often patient when there were spells of tight bowling. And now, all that remains for them to do tomorrow is carry on from where they left off to peel off the last remaining signpost8212;the world record 576 against India at the Premadasa Stadium held by Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama during the 1997 series.

Sure, the pitch has flattened out and is the sort of paradise batsmen dream about in humid conditions. But asked about 576, Sangakkara gave a nonchalant grin. 8216;8216;We8217;ll have a good look at how we bat the first hour, and then we8217;ll think about what we might achieve,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;We8217;re not going to be in a rush over this. We are only at the end of day two and there is still of a lot of overs left in this game.8217;8217;

Were they conscious that they were breaking records and tearing out pages of Wisden, some of them yellowing ones at that. 8216;8216;Not at all,8217;8217; Jayawardene chipped in. 8216;8216;We have this great camaraderie and I think we knew that as along as we kept the scoreboard moving we might be building a useful total. There is a match to win,8217;8217; he added.

Said Sangakkara: 8216;8216;First is to shut out the South Africans and win the Test. I am not too sure how many runs Murali Muttiah Muralitharan wants to bowl at, we may have enough, we may not.8217;8217;

Two famous records were crossed today: the previous highest third-wicket stand of 467 set up by Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington in 1990/91, and 370 for the third-wicket against South Africa scored by the famous Middlesex twins Denis Compton and Bill Edrich at Lord8217;s in 1947.

Records may be there for the taking as the South Africans haven8217;t found their right length in Sri Lanka. But the style and glamour of the two batsmen, with contrasting techniques, stood out amidst their impressive strokeplay. Sticking to the batting basics is a plan they set out to achieve and the result was obvious today.