COLOMBO, Dec 21: Zimbabwean opener Trevor Gripper warmed up for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka with an impressive century in a tour match here on Friday.

He was well supported by Stuart Carlisle, who slammed 98 as the tourists reached 319-6 at stumps on the opening day of a three-day game against the Sri Lankan Board team.

Andy Flower was the other batsman among runs, scoring 51 not out with the help of six fours.

The pair denied the home team success for more than a session after the sixth-over dismissal of opener Hamilton Masakadza, who joined the team along with returning skipper Brian Murphy.

Murphy rejoined to the squad after recovering from a finger injury sustained in Bangladesh last month.

The tourists, put in to bat in overcast conditions, suffered an early setback when Masakadza edged fast bowler Dinusha Fernando to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene after scoring 10 runs.

The hosts then struggled for wickets for more than three hours as Gripper and Carlisle batted confidently against both pace and spin on an easy-paced pitch.

Gripper struck 14 fours in his 166-ball knock and Carlisle 13 in his 179-ball innings before becoming paceman Ravindra Pushpakumara’s only victim in the last session.

Grant Flower (two), Craig Wishart (six), Douglas Marillier (six) and Rennie (19), however, failed to get the much-needed batting practice before the opening Test.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 319-6 (T. Gripper 101, S. Carlisle 98, A. Flower 51 not out, D. Fernando 3-47).—AFP