KARUNARATNE TON GIVES SL EARLY ADVANTAGE IN FIRST TEST

Dimuth Karunaratne’s 13th Test ton gave Sri Lanka the honours on the opening day of the first Test in Galle yesterday. The Sri Lankan captain, having opted to bat, was involved in a 139- run opening stand with Pathum Nissanka and an undefeated 97-run association for the fourth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva to take Sri Lanka to 267/3. West Indies did not pick up a single wicket in the first session while half-centurion Nissanka was the only wicket to fall in the second.

Although they did manage a couple of strikes in the final session, Karunaratne’s continued presence (132*) did not let West Indies wrest control at any stage on the opening day. Karunaratne, playing his first international game since May, continued from where he left off against Bangladesh as he recorded a hundred in his third successive Test. De Silva approached his innings with a lot of confidence as well, getting to his ninth Test fifty and ended the day on 56 not out off 77.

In an unfortunate incident late in the first session, debutant Jeremy Solozano was struck hard on the grille of his helmet at short leg by a shot from Karunaratne off Roston Chase. He was stretchered off the field and taken in an ambulance to a hospital for scans. Cricket West Indies later revealed in a tweet that “scans show no structural damage. He will be kept at the hospital overnight for observation.” Oshada Fernando (3) fell in the first over after Tea, with Nkrumah Bonner taking a good reflex catch at short leg to give Chase his first wicket. The offspinner also sent Angelo Mathews (3) back as the batter failed in his attempt to go over the deep midwicket fence.

Karunaratne’s concentration wasn’t affected by the dismissals, though, as he reached his fourth Test ton at Galle and second against West Indies. He received good support from De Silva, who batted with a healthy strike rate and brought up a 62-ball 50. With two overs remaining in the day, the umpires deemed the light was not good enough and called stumps.

(Agencies)