Kumar Sangakkara became the first batsman to hit 150-plus scores in four consecutive Tests as Sri Lanka pressed for victory in the first Test against England on Tuesday.
The left-hander made 152 as Sri Lanka piled up 442-8 in their second innings when they declared 30 minutes before stumps on the fourth day to leave England an imposing victory
target of 350.
England closed the day on 9-1, losing Alastair Cook to the fourth ball of the innings from Chaminda Vaas, who forced an edge to Chamara Silva at first slip.
Skipper Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on one and night watchman James Anderson was on four as England return on the final day to attempt a history-defying win.
The highest fourth innings total achieved at the Asgiriya stadium to win a Test was 264-3 by India in 2001.
Vaughan's men can, however, take heart from their previous visit to Kandy in 2003 when the tourists, set a target of 368, ended with 285-7 to draw the match.
Sangakkara followed his 92 in the first innings with a brilliant century containing 19 fours before he was caught at mid-on by Vaughan off part-time seamer Paul Collingwood.
Sangakkara's 16th Test century -- the sixth in his last 10 innings -- made him only the ninth batsman in history to score a hundred against all the other nine Test-playing nations.
But he was the first to the rare feat of four 150-plus scores in as many Tests after making 200 not out and 222 not out against Bangladesh at home in July and 192 against Australia in Hobart last month.
Sangakkara leaves England with uphill task
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