Malinda Warnapura scored his maiden Test century as Sri Lanka made 269-4 in the first Test against West Indies.
Opener puts Sri Lanka in command despite late wickets
Malinda Warnapura scored his maiden Test century as Sri Lanka made 269-4 on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies.
The opener, playing in only his third Test, made the most of Mahela Jayawardene's decision to bat first on a flat grassless wicket in Guyana.
Warnapura's opening partner Michael Vandort (52) was the only wicket to fall up to the evening session, but the centurion eventually ran out of luck soon after tea and Kumar Sangakkara (50) and Thilan Samaraweera (duck) both went the same way.
Jerome Taylor was the man responsible for the turnaround with two wickets in his 15th over and he bowled 18 overs in total taking three wickets and conceding 59 runs.
Fight back
Sri Lanka dominated the morning session though and made it through to the afternoon unscathed. But Taylor's hard work work was eventually rewarded when he trapped Vandort plumb in front with a sharp, full delivery.
Warnapura was the next man to fall tickling one down the legside from Dwayne Bravo to the grateful Denesh Ramdin behind the stumps, but he had already added a valuable 120 runs to the toal and Sri Lanka were still 205-2 at that stage.
Sangakkara and his captain Jayawardene then combined for a partnership of 38 and looked in control, but no sooner had the former wicketkeeper reached his half-century than he was out.
Taylor it was who tempted Sangakkara into driving at a wide one, which Devon Smith gathered safely at first slip.
Injury
Two balls later Samaraweera went to a leading edge off Taylor that popped up for substitute fielder Travis Dowlin, on on the field in place of injured captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who injured his little finger in the final session.
It was later confirmed the skipper will be fit to return on day two, but his team still have a lot of work to do if they are to make a positive start to the Test.
Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan were unbeaten in a stand of 26 at the end of play and will expect to continue to build a decisive first innings lead.
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