KANDY, Sri Lanka (CMC) - Kumar Sangakkara completed his eighth Test century in between the showers on a generally gloomy day to lift Sri Lanka to an almost impregnable position on the third day of the second and final cricket Test against West Indies yesterday. The 27 year-old wicketkeeper/batsman hit an unbeaten 135 - his second Test hundred against the Caribbean side - to propel Sri Lanka to 340 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 342 runs, when bad light stopped play early. In adding another 194 runs for the loss of five wickets on a day in which over three hours was lost to intermittent showers, the Sri Lankans have effectively left the visitors with an uphill task to avoid being swept 2-0 in the brief series even if more inclement weather interrupts the final two days of the match. On the ground, where he learnt much of his cricket as a teenage schoolboy at the adjacent Trinity College, Sangakkara played watchfully for long periods of his innings, only occasionally unfurling the flashing offside strokes that have become his trademark. Joined by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored 49, in a 109-run, fifth-wicket partnership that drained West Indian enthusiasm, the left-handed Sangakkara hammered 19 boundaries off 265 deliveries by the time he left the field to a rousing ovation from his hometown spectators. Jermaine Lawson gave the visitors a bright start with the wickets of Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera in the space of three deliveries in his first over of the morning, but it proved a false dawn as none of the bowlers could maintain the discipline and consistency they showed on the second day. Omari Banks accounted for Dilshan and Chaminda Vaas, the second success coming after the second new ball had been taken almost as soon as it became due. Daren Powell bowled Gayan Wijekoon, but the fast bowlers generally wasted the new cherry, prompting Shivnarine Chanderpaul to turn to the off-spinner for another breakthrough. Even though Banks obliged, West Indies are still left with a mountainous task, especially as they have struggled so far to cope with the experience and guile of Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan so far in the series. The one ray of light for the inexperienced West Indies batting line-up is that Vaas, who routed them with figures of six for 22 in the first innings, has been hobbled by a leg-strain and required a runner during his innings of 19 before he was bowled off his pads, sweeping at Banks. More impressive work by the massive local ground staff permitted the start of play 15 minutes before noon, and Lawson lifted the spirits of his side immediately when Sangakkara and Jayawardene resumed at 146 for two. Lawson, who will be awaiting the results of video analysis of his bowling action by the International Cricket Council with some degree of anxiety, uprooted Jayawardene's off-stump with the Sri Lankan vice-captain on 43. Two balls later, Samaraweera glanced a delivery angled down the leg-side and the impressive Denesh Ramdin came up with another fine catch to set back Sri Lanka at 155 for four. The wicketkeeper was uncharacteristically slow off the mark, when Sangakkara glanced the second delivery of the morning from Runako Morton just past his outstretched right glove. It was to be the last real opportunity to remove him in the day. Dilshan gave the innings important momentum in between two more lengthy breaks in play, stepping up a gear when he crashed three boundaries off an over from Tino Best. The attacking right-hander was on the verge of an attractive half-century when a lazy late cut off Banks offered a chance to Morton at slip which the fielder held neatly to complete his fourth catch of the match. Just before Dilshan's demise, Sangakkara reached his hundred in sweeping Banks to the fine-leg boundary, and looked in no mood to give his innings away on achieving the milestone. With Vaas hampered by the leg injury, Wijekoon was hastily sent out to join Sangakkara. He never settled, and his demise to Powell brought Vaas belatedly to the middle. The left-handed all-rounder's request for a runner seemed to have been denied by the umpires, but they eventually acceded with Chanderpaul readily agreeing to the request. Vaas added 43 for the seventh wicket with Sangakkara before he fell to Banks, leaving Rangana Herath to partner the day's batting hero to the close. Even if the cool, damp conditions allowed the bowlers to remain fresher longer than normal, Sri Lanka's progress to a position of dominance would have left West Indies feeling deflated. It will be a challenge for them to lift themselves for the final innings of the match over the last two days. SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st Innings 150 (D Powell 5-25) WEST INDIES 1st Innings 148 (C Vaas 6-22) SRI LANKA 2nd Innings (overnight 146 for two) S Jayasuriya c Morton b Lawson 36 *M Atapattu c Banks b Powell 19 +K Sangakkara not out 135 M Jayawardene b Lawson 43 T Samaraweera c wkpr Ramdin b Lawson 0 T Dilshan c Morton b Banks 49 G Wijekoon b Powell 12 C Vaas b Banks 19 R Herath not out 4 Extras: (b8, lb5, w6, nb4) 23 TOTAL: (7 wkts) 340 Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-57, 3-155, 4-155, 5-264, 6-278, 7-321. Bowling: Powell 27-4-79-2, Lawson 25-1-93-3, Best 19-2-79-0, Banks 16-5-39-2, Deonarine 3-0-13-0, Morton 5-0-15-0, * Chanderpaul 3-1-13-0. Overs: 98 Umpires: S Taufel, T Hill (TV Replays: T Wijewardene). Match Referee: M Procter. Reprinted from jamaicaobserver.com