Jayawardene makes India toil

Jayawardene and Prasanna took Sri Lanka into a commanding position in the first Test.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Sri Lanka build up formidable 165-run lead over India in first Test
Mahela Jayawardene leads way with his sixth double ton in Tests
He shares unbroken 216 stand with Prasanna Jayawardene for sixth wicket
Lord's boss insists the ground will not be renamed to incorporate sponsor

(CNN) -- Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene scored his sixth double century in Test match cricket as his side made India toil in the opening match of the series in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Former captain Jayawardene was unbeaten on 204 as Sri Lanka closed the fhird day of the first Test on 591 for five wickets, a lead of 165 over India's first innings of 426.

They now have two days left to force their first Test victory on Indian soil with world record wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan expected to play a key role at the Motera Stadium.

Jayawardene found superb support from wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who was undefeated on 84 in an record unbroken stand of 216.

Their efforts eclipsed the previous best sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka of 189 by Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 1997.

They were assisted by a docile Indian bowling attack, who could not enforce any pressure on a batting-friendly wicket.

Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera were at the wicket at the start of the day and took their stand to 138 before the latter went for 70.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews made 17, putting on 43 for the fifth wicket with Jayawardene before being given out caught at short leg off Harbhajan Singh, replays indicating it had just hit his pad.

I just want to reassure people that there's no way we would rename Lord's
--MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw

But the two unrelated Jayawardenes then took total control and will be looking to build the lead past 200 on the fourth day.

Sri Lanka are playing three Tests, two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals on the seven-week tour of India.

In other cricket news on Wednesday, the chief executive of the Marleybone Cricket Club (MCC) denied reports that the home of cricket Lord's would be renamed to incorporate a sponsor.

Keith Bradshaw had been quoted in The Times as saying that attaching a sponsor's name to the ground and the seven stands was "obviously an option."

But Bradshaw insisted on Wednesday: "I just want to reassure people that there's no way we would rename Lord's. It's the home of cricket, the hallowed turf. It's not an option at all."