Sri Lanka Dominate Day One In Karachi

Sri Lanka Dominate Day One In Karachi

Pakistan players (background) celebrate the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara (right) but it was Sri Lanka's day overall.

©REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN) Picture Supplied by Action Image

Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera both scored unbeaten centuries as Sri Lanka piled up 406 for three on day one of the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi.

The first day of Test cricket in Pakistan for 14 months was a tough one for the home side, who struck twice in the opening session, once after lunch before Jayawardene, unbeaten on 136 and Samaraweera, on 130, batted for more than 50 overs together.

The day had started so promisingly for Pakistan as after losing the toss Umar Gul had Tharanga Paranavitana caught by Misbah-ul-Haq first ball - not the debut the batsman had in mind and 16 overs and five balls later, Malinda Warnapura (59) was caught by Misbah off of Yasir Arafat.

Warnapura was in no mood to hang around, scoring his runs from 48 balls and Kumar Sangakkara escaped a vociferous lbw shout to make 70 in 104 balls before he offered Misbah a third catch, this time off of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Pakistan handed a debut to Sohail Khan, but the fast bowler had a terrible time of things, opening the bowling and conceding 105 runs in 16 overs although he did have Jayawardene dropped late on.

Yasir Arafat and Shoaib Malik were the most economical while captain Younus Khan even bowled an over himself but they could find no way of dislodging Jayawardene and Samaraweera, whose unbroken 229-run partnership has left no one in any doubt about who is bossing this match.

Jayawardene was dropped twice in all and no team can expect to get away with such profligacy in the field and the Sri Lankan captain looks set to make them pay.

© Cricket World 2009

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