Tillakaratne Dilshan (101) and Kumar Sangakkara (111 batting) scored classy, contrasting centuries on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan, as Sri Lanka made 300 for two in 90 overs. The pair added 124 runs for the second wicket to put Sri Lanka on firm ground.
At stumps, Sangakkara and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (55 batting), who has an excellent record at Galle, were at the crease.
Dilshan began watchfully and then raced to his half-century before lunch. He went back into a shell again and finally consumed 180 balls for his 101.
Lucky break
Sangakkara initially had problems against Saeed Ajmal. He was lucky when he was dropped by Younis Khan off Ajmal — it was a sharp chance — at slip, and the thick outside edge raced to the fence.
Mohammad Hafeez was not too effective; perhaps the pressure of captaincy was telling on him. In fact he bowled only eight overs, compared to the 24 by Ajmal and 30 by Rehman.
Earlier, Jayawardene elected to bat on a rather flat Galle wicket. In the past few series, particularly against England and Australia, the wicket had been taking spin quite early.
However, this time the wicket appears to be different and there should be lot of runs scored at least on the first three days.
Sri Lanka had to replace Chanaka Welegedara with Nuwan Pradeep following an injury. This is Pradeep’s second Test. Nuwan Kulasekara also made a comeback after being discarded in 2010.
Pakistan capped 32-year-old batsman Mohammed Ayub in place of the suspended Misbah-ul-Haq.
Scoreboard:
Sri Lanka: N.T.Paranavitana st Akmal b Ajmal 24, T.M.Dilshan lbw Ajmal 101, K.Sangakkara (batting) 111, M.Jayawardene (batting) 55. Extras (b 6, lb 1, nb 2) 9.Total:(for the loss of two wicket in 90 overs): 300
Fall of Wickets: 1-63, 2-187.
Pakistan Bowling: Gul 17-4-55-0, Khan 11-3-39-0, Hafeez 8-1-29-0, Ajmal 24-4-81-2, Rehman 30-6-89-0
Keywords: Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka
