WELLINGTON, Feb 1:- A blazing career-best of 203 not out by Aravinda De Silva left Sri Laqka in

complete control on the second day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand today, reports Reuter.

De Silva dispatched a mediocre New Zealand bowl Ing attack to all corners of the Basin Reserve Ground in an innings that Included an incredible 33 fours.

11 was the highest Test score by a Sri foinkan, surpassing 201 not out by Brendon Kuruppu against New Zealand in Colombo In the 1986-87 season.

The short right-hand batsman told reporters afterwards he had a point to prove after disappointing scores in Ihc past week In two one-day matches against New Zealand.

"1 felt 1 had let my fans and my team-mates down In the one diiycrs and I was determined to get some runs In the Test," he said. Tm feeling very lired, but I'm quit happy to forgcl the tiredness.”

Tve got a sister who lives in Auckland and she phones me most days, getting at me to get some runs," De Silva. 25, lold reporters.

In a match In which De Silva kept statisticians busy, he look his total Test tally beyond 1,000 runs to 1,189.

The quietly spoken batsman said wayward New Zealand bowling made his job easier.

"I thought that the New Zealanders bowled a bit too short and that was one of the reasons why I was able lo gel a few runs."

De Silva's huge innings look Sri Lanka to 359 for three at slumps, giving Ihcm a healthy lirsl innings lead of 185 with seven wickets In hand. New Zealand were dismissed for a cheap 174 on Thursday.

New Zealand, who have never lost lo Sri Lanka, face a tough task to save the test, with three days to play.

De Silva's mammoth scour, delighting a small crowd tn fine but windy conditions exceeded hls previous highest Test innings of 167 against Australia in Brisbane In the 1989-90 season.

I Ie batted for 352 minutes and faced 280 balls .

De Silva's first 100 runs came from just 124 balls ip 171 minutes Included 18 fours. The second came in 181 minutes off 156 balls, with 15 fours.

It was a chancclcss innings. apart from a straight forwards catch clipped to Mark Great-batch at square leg when he was on 96. lofted a short delivery from Willy Walson lo New Zealand skipper Marlin Crowcal mid-wickct.

New Zealand paccmcn Watson. Danny Morrison and Chris Pringle struggled on the green wicket, which did not offer the same assistance as that enjoyed by Sri Lanka on Thurs-day.

They too often bowled short and wide of the stumps and were severely punished by De Silva who scored heavily through boundaries square of the wicket. He cut and pulled with superb timing, picking out the poor deliveries and defending when required.

New Zealand had nothing lo cheer about in the field, with loose bowling matched by gen erally uncnthusiastic fielding.