Dilshan takes North Central past 600

Western Province 228 and 192 for 2 (Daniel 94*, Tharanga 40) trail North Central Province 607 for 9 dec (Gunawardene 209, Kalavitigoda 59, Jayawardene 51, Dilshan 134, Vaas 5-98) by 187 runs
Scorecard

Tillakaratne Dilshan added a cultured 134 to Avishka Gunawardene's double-century yesterday as North Central Province piled up a huge total on the third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Mahela Jayawardene called a halt when Dilshan was finally out, after stroking 18 fours and two sixes, with the score at 607 - a lead of 379. Chaminda Vaas was again the only bowler to exert any control, and finished with 5 for 98, excellent figures in the circumstances. Ian Daniel and Michael Vandort reduced the arrears by 95 before Vandort was trapped in front by Chanaka Welegedara for 29. Daniel then added 86 with Upul Tharanga, whose 40 included seven fours. Daniel was unbeaten at the close, in sight of his eighth first-class century - but Western Province are still 187 behind going into the final day.

Southern Province took command on the third day of their match at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy, building a lead of 335 by the close, mainly thanks to a second-wicket partnership of 223 between Harsha Vithana, who made 103, and Anushka Polonowita, who added an unbeaten 134 to his first-innings 65. They came together after the early loss of Marvan Atapattu for his second single-figure score of the match. Earlier Thilina Kandamby took his overnight score to a career-best 144 as Central stretched their first innings to 265.