Tuesday, April 25 2006 13:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Upul Tharanga moved closer to a place at the top of the Sri Lanka batting order in the forthcoming Test against England at Lord's after his hundred against the British Universities.

The left-handed opener made exactly 100 in the tourists' 289 on day one of three as they began their summer at Fenner's on Monday (Apr 24, 2006).

And Tharanga admitted he must stay in form if he is to play for his country against England in the three-Test series which starts next month.

"That is a good start, and I'm very pleased. But I know I need to score more runs (to be in the Test side)," he said.

Tharanga already has almost 500 Test runs to his name even though he made his debut only late last year, and there is a place for him as a Sri Lanka opener following the recent Test retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu's back injury.

Despite cool weather the 21-year-old hit 17 fours

Despite the cool weather the 21-year-old hit 17 fours - mainly crashed through his favourite direction square on the off-side - in his 129-ball hundred.

Sri Lanka's par total was made to look a good deal better than that by the time the students had replied with 13 for two by stumps.

"It was cold, and the opening bowler bowled a very good line and length," he said. "That meant it wasn't easy, and I had to concentrate and make sure I tried to pick the right ball to hit."

Tharanga, who played for nearby Loughton CC two years ago and also made a century for Essex against Middlesex in the county championship 2nd XI, admits he still has work to do on his game.

"I've always been a good off-side player. But I've been working on my leg-side shots too and I managed to get a few of those today too," he said.