Jayawardene shuts hapless Pakistan

Karachi: Unbeaten hundreds from Mahela Jayawardene (136 runs, 239 balls, 20×4) and Thilan Samaraweera (130 runs, 155 balls, 21×4) powered Sri Lanka to a formidable position of 406-3 at the close of day one of the first Test match against Pakistan at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors, who won the toss and chose to bat first, maintained a astounding run-rate of at 4.51 runs per over in the day’s play amidst a solid Saturday afternoon crowd.

Pakistan’s first Test in 14 months failed to attract a big crowd as only a handful of schoolchildren watched the first day’s play at the National Stadium.

A total of 59 boundaries were struck in day’s play – to throw light on Pakistan’s appalling show with the ball. None of the bowlers proved to be threatening as the Lankans made merry on a placid surface.

Younis Khan’s first day in the office as Pakistan’s Test skipper was ruined by his counterpart Jayawardene, who slammed his 25th Test century, to become the first Sri Lankan to reach 8,000 runs and the 20th player in Test history.

Meanwhile Samaraweere brought up his eighth career century to reiterate his position as a solid number 5 batsman for Sri Lanka. The duo of Jayawardene and Samaraweera had added 229 runs for the fourth-wicket when stumps were drawn on day one.

Kumar Sangakkara had made 70 before becoming the only wicket to fall in the session when he was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq at short midwicket off leg spinner Danish Kaneria.

It was Misbah’s s third catch of the innings but he also dropped an easy chance at second slip off Jayawardene, on 43, to leave debutant pacer Sohail Khan distraught.
Sri Lanka recovered well after losing debutant opener Tharanga Paranavitana to a first ball duck.

Opener, Malinda Warnapura (59) and Sangakkara put on 90 for the second wicket as the Pakistan bowlers wilted in the heat on a pitch that dried up quickly.

Pakistan’s last Test was against India at Bangalore in December 2007 and the team has not played a home Test since facing South Africa in October that year, with security concerns keeping foreign teams away from Pakistan in 2008.