Sri Lanka-Pakistan 1st Test: Day 1

Published June 22, 2012
Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) is congratulated by teammate Kumar Sangakkara (L) after scoring a half-century. -Photo by AFP
Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) is congratulated by teammate Kumar Sangakkara (L) after scoring a half-century. -Photo by AFP
Ajmal (2L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Sri Lanka cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan (R). -Photo by AP
Ajmal (2L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Sri Lanka cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan (R). -Photo by AP
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene played an extremely assured knock in which he improvised and was particulary aggressive against Ajmal. -Photo by AFP
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene played an extremely assured knock in which he improvised and was particulary aggressive against Ajmal. -Photo by AFP
Sangakkara continued Dilshan's good work as he moved to his 29th Test hundred with a risky single to mid-off for which he had to dive full-length to make his ground. -Photo by Reuters
Sangakkara continued Dilshan's good work as he moved to his 29th Test hundred with a risky single to mid-off for which he had to dive full-length to make his ground. -Photo by Reuters
Dilshan was as comfortable on the backfoot as he was coming to the pitch of the ball. - Photo by Reuters
Dilshan was as comfortable on the backfoot as he was coming to the pitch of the ball. - Photo by Reuters
Tillakaratne Dilshan (C) plays a shot as Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali (L) reacts. -Photo by AFP
Tillakaratne Dilshan (C) plays a shot as Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali (L) reacts. -Photo by AFP
Dilshan cracked 13 fours and a six in his 180-ball 101. It was Dilshan's first Test century at home since making 123 not out against New Zealand at Galle in August 2009. -Photo by AFP
Dilshan cracked 13 fours and a six in his 180-ball 101. It was Dilshan's first Test century at home since making 123 not out against New Zealand at Galle in August 2009. -Photo by AFP
Umar Gul (R) toils hard in the hot conditions. -Photo by AFP
Umar Gul (R) toils hard in the hot conditions. -Photo by AFP
Jayawardene (L) is congratulated by Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (C) as Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara walks off the field at the end of the opening day. -Photo by Reuters
Jayawardene (L) is congratulated by Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (C) as Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara walks off the field at the end of the opening day. -Photo by Reuters
Kumar Sangakkara (R) and Mahela Jayawardene leave the ground at close of play. -Photo by AFP
Kumar Sangakkara (R) and Mahela Jayawardene leave the ground at close of play. -Photo by AFP
Saeed Ajmal (3rd R) celebrates with wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal (2nd R) after the dismissal of unseen Sri Lankan cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana. -Photo by AFP
Saeed Ajmal (3rd R) celebrates with wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal (2nd R) after the dismissal of unseen Sri Lankan cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana. -Photo by AFP
Kumar Sangakkara started in great fashion, stroking the ball sweetly to all corners. -Photo by AFP
Kumar Sangakkara started in great fashion, stroking the ball sweetly to all corners. -Photo by AFP

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara struck fluent centuries as the Sri Lankan top order punished Pakistan's wayward bowlers on the opening day of the first test on Friday. Dilshan (101) scored his 13th test century and Sangakkara remained unbeaten after his 29th to power Sri Lanka to 300 for two wickets at stumps and vindicate skipper Mahela Jayawardene's decision to bat first. Sangakkara, who has an 80-plus batting average against Pakistan, was unbeaten on 111 scored off 194 balls with the help of 13 fours. He added 113 runs for the third wicket with Jayawardene, who was unbeaten on 55, having survived a strong leg before appeal at 21 off Umar Gul.

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