The hosts had been 357 for one on the shut, nonetheless 135 runs behind however with 9 wickets in hand.
Madushka was unbeaten on 149 at stumps, alongside Kusal Mendis, approaching a century of his personal on 83, after Karunaratne departed for 115 — the one wicket to fall on the third day of the match.
The first Test ended inside three days with Sri Lanka’s spinners dominating, however the pitch within the second encounter has supplied the spinners little help and the batsmen dominated proceedings.
Captain Karunaratne reached the sixteenth century of his check profession, and his second consecutive ton, in simply 116 balls.
But the left-hander mistimed a pull shot off Curtis Campher and was caught at deep high quality leg within the final over earlier than lunch, two balls after he was hit on the helmet.
Madushka had already introduced up his maiden Test century, pulling a Harry Tector full toss for six.
Their 228 was a document Sri Lankan opening partnership on the floor, eclipsing the 193 between Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya in opposition to South Africa in 2000.
Mendis and Madushka continued the run-fest, with the quantity three racing to his 83 off 96 balls with seven fours and 5 sixes, together with three in a row off debutant left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys, who was quickly taken out of the assault.
Bad mild interrupted play earlier than tea, earlier than the rains got here down and it was known as off for the day.
The prospect of a draw loomed giant however Sri Lanka batting coach Naveed Nawaz insisted his facet may nonetheless win the sport “although rain has played havoc”.
“There’s a total of 180 overs left in the game now,” he instructed reporters. “If we bat for another 90 overs, we’ll be able to take a decent lead as our deficit is now only 135.
“We have wickets in hand and that is nonetheless batting pitch.”
Play will resume 15 minutes early on the final two days to make up for lost time.
Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0.
Ireland fast bowling coach Ryan Eagleson conceded his team’s bowlers “are nonetheless studying and are much less skilled in Test cricket”.
“So you’ve got to provide them time and be affected person,” he stated.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com