GALLE (Sri Lanka), Nov 13: Brian Lara won his opening duel with Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan Tuesday, scoring his 16th Test century to help West Indies reach 316 for three on day one of the first Test.

Lara, who almost missed the tour with a long-term hamstring injury, was dropped twice but hit 12 fours to end on 117 not out from 189 deliveries as Muralitharan toiled away with little success.

“It’s a great competition between us and I appreciate his ability to bowl off-spin,” Lara said about Muralitharan. “He is something special in world cricket.”

The spinner, so successful at the Galle International Stadium in the past, bowled 41 overs for figures of one for 104.

West Indies captain Carl Hooper was the other batsman at the crease, on 34 after an unbroken stand of 76.

It was Lara’s first Test hundred since his 182 against Australia at Adelaide last December.

“It is nice to go out there, work on something, and eventually get the results. Hopefully, I can go on to get something bigger,” Lara said.

“The coach asked me what I want to do this series and I told him that I want to make plenty of runs and spend a lot of time in the middle,” he said.

The Trinidadian reached three figures in fine style, coming down the pitch to loft Muralitharan over mid-off for four. Lara, who came into the Test under pressure to deliver, made the most of a frustrating day for the hosts, who put him down on 31 and 93.

On both occasions the offender was wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara, with captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Muralitharan the unlucky bowlers.

The visitors won the toss and batted first on a firm grassless pitch.

The main stand of the day came from Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, the pair adding 145 before Sarwan, cutting at a ball spinning into him, was bowled by Muralitharan after scoring 88 in four hours.

Sarwan had also been given a life when, on 78, Hashan Tillakaratne at forward short leg failed to hold a catch off Muralitharan.