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Lunch Sri Lanka 94 for 1 (Dilshan 56*, Sangakkara 12*) v Pakistan
Tillakaratne Dilshan was his usual aggressive self as Sri Lanka made a strong start in the first Test against Pakistan, after choosing to bat on an unexpectedly sunny day in Galle. There was talk that the pitch wouldn't be the usual spin-friendly surface, but Pakistan's trio of spinners was getting plenty of help in the first session of the Test itself.
The new ball didn't assist Pakistan too much in terms of swing though Umar Gul managed to trouble the openers once he had warmed up. He gradually increased his pace over the six-over spell, beat Tharanga Paranavitana on several occasions, and in the 11th over had him nicking a rearing delivery to the keeper. The umpire didn't notice the edge, and with no DRS in this series, Paranavitana survived and Gul had to be content pointing out to the batsman where he should be headed.
Paranavitana, recalled after missing Sri Lanka's previous three Tests, soaked up much of the strike early on. His partner Dilshan was also a touch subdued early on, but soon served up his cavalier brand of batting. Mohammad Hafeez, the stand-in Pakistan captain, had done a solid job on being handed the ball early in recent Tests, but he was launched over long-on for six in his second over. By the time Junaid Khan returned for his second spell around the drinks break, Dilshan was dishing our regular boundaries: a couple of dismissive pulls for four and nutmegging the non-striker with a punched drive for another four.
Paranavitana, fighting for the opening spot with Lahiru Thirimanne, didn't make the best of cases. Though there were some fluent off-side strokes off the back foot, he was troubled both by Gul and Hafeez. When Saeed Ajmal came into the attack, Paranavitana survived an lbw chance due to an edge, which flew to Azhar Ali at silly point but the fielder seemed more keen on appealing for lbw than catching the ball. It didn't cost them much, though, as Paranavitana uncharacteristically charged out two balls later to be comprehensively beaten by Ajmal, and stumped by Adnan Akmal.
Dilshan had sped to his half-century at a run-a-ball, but the Pakistan spinners managed to pull it back after that. Abdul Rehman got a few deliveries to bounce extra and others to turn a long way, and Ajmal continued to tease with his variations. Dilshan survived several lbw appeals, Sangakkara edged past slip, there was a leading edge from Dilshan, the spinners put together three successive maidens, and despite the healthy scoreline Sri Lanka were relieved when the lunch interval came.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was his usual aggressive self as Sri Lanka made a strong start in the first Test against Pakistan, after choosing to bat on an unexpectedly sunny day in Galle. There was talk that the pitch wouldn't be the usual spin-friendly surface, but Pakistan's trio of spinners was getting plenty of help in the first session of the Test itself.
The new ball didn't assist Pakistan too much in terms of swing though Umar Gul managed to trouble the openers once he had warmed up. He gradually increased his pace over the six-over spell, beat Tharanga Paranavitana on several occasions, and in the 11th over had him nicking a rearing delivery to the keeper. The umpire didn't notice the edge, and with no DRS in this series, Paranavitana survived and Gul had to be content pointing out to the batsman where he should be headed.
Paranavitana, recalled after missing Sri Lanka's previous three Tests, soaked up much of the strike early on. His partner Dilshan was also a touch subdued early on, but soon served up his cavalier brand of batting. Mohammad Hafeez, the stand-in Pakistan captain, had done a solid job on being handed the ball early in recent Tests, but he was launched over long-on for six in his second over. By the time Junaid Khan returned for his second spell around the drinks break, Dilshan was dishing our regular boundaries: a couple of dismissive pulls for four and nutmegging the non-striker with a punched drive for another four.
Paranavitana, fighting for the opening spot with Lahiru Thirimanne, didn't make the best of cases. Though there were some fluent off-side strokes off the back foot, he was troubled both by Gul and Hafeez. When Saeed Ajmal came into the attack, Paranavitana survived an lbw chance due to an edge, which flew to Azhar Ali at silly point but the fielder seemed more keen on appealing for lbw than catching the ball. It didn't cost them much, though, as Paranavitana uncharacteristically charged out two balls later to be comprehensively beaten by Ajmal, and stumped by Adnan Akmal.
Dilshan had sped to his half-century at a run-a-ball, but the Pakistan spinners managed to pull it back after that. Abdul Rehman got a few deliveries to bounce extra and others to turn a long way, and Ajmal continued to tease with his variations. Dilshan survived several lbw appeals, Sangakkara edged past slip, there was a leading edge from Dilshan, the spinners put together three successive maidens, and despite the healthy scoreline Sri Lanka were relieved when the lunch interval came.