SYDNEY, 7 April 2005 — Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu posted a century in the opening Test against New Zealand in Napier yesterday to become the fourth player to score hundreds against all nine Test opponents.
Atapattu made a chanceless 127 while his teammate Mahela Jayawardene blazed an unbeaten 118 to help Sri Lanka reach 351 for three when bad light ended play early on the third day at McLean Park.
The tourists were still 210 behind New Zealand’s massive first innings total of 561 but with only two days remaining on a placid pitch that offers little encouragement to the bowlers, a draw is already the most likely outcome.
Sri Lanka began the day 48 without loss and suffered an early setback when Martin removed opener Sanath Jayasuriya and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara before lunch.
Jayasuriya fell two runs short of a half-century when he was trapped leg before wicket with the total on 95 then Martin added the scalp of Sangakkara (5) with the first ball of his next over when he played on.
Martin’s double-strike brought Atapattu and Jayawardene together and the pair quickly set about balancing the ledger with a partnership of 184, setting a Sri Lankan record for the third wicket against New Zealand.
Jayawardene made a flying start to his innings, reaching his half-century at almost a run a ball then went on to register his 13th Test hundred from 157 deliveries and survive the day with his wicket intact. Atapattu, cautious but elegant, crawled to his half-century in 119 deliveries but accelerated after lunch, reaching his hundred off 196 balls in 255 minutes when he pulled Kyle Mills to the rope for his 17th boundary.
The Sri Lankan skipper raised his bat in triumph as he recalled his inauspicious start to T est career, when he managed only one run from his first six innings.
He was dropped for three years but forced his way back in and has been on a roller coaster ride ever since. His Test career includes 21 ducks but also features 16 centuries and six double-hundreds, more than any other player in history except Don Bradman (12), Wally Hammond (7) and Brian Lara (7).
His elusive hundred against the Kiwis on Wednesday meant he joined South African Gary Kirsten, Australian Steve Waugh and Indian Sachin Tendulkar as the only players to reach three figures against nine different test opponents.
