Day 1 of the first test belongs to Sri Lanka without a doubt. Dilshan and Sangakkara both made brilliant hundreds and Jayawardene is also looking well set. Pakistan would be hoping for a much better day tomorrow than what they had to face today.

22nd June 2012

Teams

Pakistan

Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez*, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal†, Mohammad Ayub, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan

Sri Lanka

NT Paranavitana, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakarran, DPMD Jayawardene, TT Samaraweera, AD Mathews, HAPW Jayawardene†, KMDN Kulasekara, S Randiv, HMRKB Herath, ANPR Fernando

Sri Lanka Innings

Following a disappointing ODI series, Pakistan were looking to gain revenge on the Sri Lankans in a format that has provided them with incredibly favourable results in recent times. Pakistan whitewashed the number 1 team in the world last February, but with several batsman out of form, their captain missing, and up against a determined home side, a repeat of that result would be a difficult task.

Mohammad Hafeez took charge for the first time in a test match, but his batting wasn't to be immediately tested as Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat first on a typical Sri Lankan track. Mohammad Ayub was handed a debut ahead of Faisal Iqbal, and Sri Lanka also went in with two spinners, Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath.

The two openers got off to a solid start, with both Dilshan and Paranavitana cashing in on some loose deliveries. The early introduction of Hafeez didn't prove fruitful either, as Dilshan launched the bowler for 6 the moment he gave the ball some air. Gul should have had Paranavitana in the 11th over, but the umpire didn't detect the inside edge, and with no DRS being used, the bowler just had to walk back and bowl again.

Dilshan continued to attack, and Junaid Khan in particular bore the brunt of his punishment as the 50 partnership was brought up in the 14th over. Unsurprisingly, the introduction of England's destroyer, Saeed Ajmal, provided the breakthrough. Paranavitana charged out of his crease, but was beaten by the flight and turn, and Adnan Akmal made no mistake with the stumping. Dilshan brought up his half century shortly after and, along with Sangakarra, took Sri Lanka safely to lunch (94/1).

After lunch, the Pakistani bowlers had no answer to the class of the two batsmen at the crease, and they gradually began to open up. A boundary ball every few overs meant that the away side just weren't able to build the pressure, and it wasn't long before Sangakarra reached yet another half century. Dilshan crosssed the hundred mark when he swept Rehman for 4, and he acknowledged a well deserved century. The spinners had bowled some tight lines but Dilshan's aggressive strokeplay really made it difficult for Pakistan.

The second wicket finally came with the score at 187/1, and it was that man Ajmal again, trapping Dilshan in front with a flighted doosra. At tea though, Sri Lanka were in a commanding position at 188/2.

After tea, Jayawardene and Sangakkara continued the good display of batting from Sri Lanka and lifted up the run rate with the two showing their full range of strokes. Mahela Jayawardene survived a LBW shout off the bowling of Umar Gul and after getting an extra life continued to punish the bowlers, including cutting and pulling Umar Gul for three boundaries in an over. 

Pakistan bowlers continued to toil hard, but the two senior Sri Lankan batsmen batted solidly and Sangakkara reached his eighth century against Pakistan by taking a risky and quick single, which could have left the Sri Lankan batsman stranded on 99, had Pakistan hurled in a direct hit. Pakistan took the second new ball after the 84th over, but was not able to break the partnership and Sri Lanka ended the day in a very strong position at 300/2. 

Day 1 of the first test belongs to Sri Lanka without a doubt. Dilshan and Sangakkara both made brilliant hundreds and Jayawardene is also looking well set. Pakistan would be hoping for a much better day tomorrow than what they had to face today.