After restricting South Africa for just 169 in their first innings, Sri Lanka, courtesy of captain Mahela Jaywardene and Kumar Sangakkara scored 6 for 756 declared. The pair broke the previous best partnership (set in 1997 by Mahanama and Jayasuriya (576) ironically at the same ground in Colombo with a stunning partnership of 624.

Jaywardene was also unlucky falling just 26 runs short of Brian Lara’s world record 400 and six runs behind Australian Hayden (380). The total of 756 is the sixth highest score in Test history.

The 374 scored took 11 hours to score and included 43 4′s and a solitary six, Mahela had faced 572 in his long innings before falling to paceman Andre Nel. Nicky Boje was the most expensive bowler conceding 221 runs off 65 overs.

At the other side of the world, England continued to dominate at Old Trafford taking two early wickets as Pakistan try to salvage something from what really is a lost cause. On a decent batting strip Pakistan failed in their first innings and are surely facing certain defeat.