Cricket - Sri Lanka finish w/ 406-3 at National Stadium
Pakistani bowlers seemed helpless as Sri Lankan batsmen dominated the scene scoring 406 runs for the loss of only three wickets when play ended on the first day of the first Test here at the National Stadium Saturday.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera hit centuries and both were unbeaten on 136 and 130, respectively. Both have so far added 229 runs for their unbeaten fourth wicket stand.
Earlier, the tourists batting first after winning the toss, lost their debutant opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who got the first-ball duck, caught by Misbah-ul-Haq off Umar Gul on the fourth ball of the first over of the match.
However, opener Malinda Warnapura and Kumar Sangakkara repaired the early damage and took the score to 93 when the former was caught, again by Misbah, off Yasir Arafat for 59. Warnapura faced 48 balls and hit nine boundaries during his 87-minute stay at the crease and was involved in 90-run second wicket partnership.
Then, Sangakkara was joined by Jayawardene and they carried the score to 120-2 at lunch.
After lunch, Sangakkara was dismissed by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria after making a brilliant 70 from 104 balls with the help of nine fours. He added 84 with his captain for the third wicket.
Later, Jayawardene and Samaraweera batted with determination and made centuries.
Jayawardene in the process reached an important milestone of 8000 runs in his 101st Test. He became the only Sri Lankan and the 20th in all to join the elite club.
Younis Khan, who was leading Pakistan in the fifth Test and for the first time after taking over the captaincy from Shoaib Malik, tried six bowlers including himself but only Gul, Arafat and Kaneria could take a wicket each during the day.
