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(CNN) -- Kumar Sangakkara struck an unbeaten half-century to put Sri Lanka in a strong position at the end of day three of the second Test against New Zealand in Colombo.
Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 64 to put Sri Lanka in control of the second Test against New Zealand.
The left-hander made an accomplished 64 and was the dominant partner in an unbroken 68-run stand for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene as Sri Lanka increased their lead to a formidable 339 runs.
In their second innings, Sri Lanka had reached 157 for two with Jayawardene unbeaten on 23 when heavy rain brought play to a premature end with 11.4 overs left to bowl.
The Kiwis had made a solid start with the ball as Jeetan Patel took the wicket of the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan for 33 and Daniel Vettori sent back Sri Lanka's other opener Tharanga Paranavitana for 34 before Sangakkara and Jayawardene came to the crease.
In the morning session, Sri Lanka's spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath finished with three wickets apiece as New Zealand were bowled out for 234 in their first innings in response to Sri Lanka's 416.
Muralitharan snapped up the wickets of Brendon McCullum (18) and Iain O'Brien (four), while Herath snapped up Ross Taylor (81) and Jacob Oram (24) as the Black Caps -- 159 for five overnight -- folded cheaply on Friday.
Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen's Achilles injury is set to keep him out of the Twenty20 Champions League tournament in October.
The 29-year-old England batsman has been left out of the 20-man squad list provided to the Champions League organizers by the Bangalore Royal Challengers, his Indian Premier League franchise.
Pietersen, who surgery on the problem last month, will focus his efforts on returning for England's tour to South Africa in November.
All About Cricket • Sri Lankan Cricket Team • Kevin Pietersen
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