The bowlers dominated the opening day of the first Test on Saturday, with Pakistan slumping to 15 for two after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292. The visitors were on top for most of the day before Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara picked up a wicket apiece before close. Kulasekara bowled Salman Butt for a duck off a delivery that cut sharply off the seam and left-armer Thushara trapped Khurram Manzoor leg before with another inswinger.

Earlier, Tharanga Paranavitana top-scored for the hosts with 72 while all-rounder Angelo Mathews made 42. The opener’s maiden Test half-century rescued the hosts after Mohammad Aamer had struck twice on his debut to leave Sri Lanka reeling on 21 for two on the first day of the three-match series. Aamer eventually finished with three wickets.

Paranavitana, who faced 125 balls and hit 11 fours, added 75 runs for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (30), who fell just before lunch, caught behind off another debutant fast bowler, Abdur Rauf. After lunch Paranavitana put on 43 with Thilan Samaraweera (31), who was making his first-class comeback after being injured in the Lahore attacks four months ago.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka 1st innings: M Warnapura b Mohammad Aamer 2, T Paranavitana c Misbah-ul-Haq b Abdur Rauf 72, K Sangakkara c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Aamer 9, D Jayawardene c Kamran Akmal b Abdur Rauf 30, T Samaraweera c Kamran Akmal b Younis Khan 31, T Dilshan c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Aamer 28, A Mathews c Kamran Akmal b Umar Gul 42, N Kulasekara c Kamran Akmal b Younis Khan 38, H Herath not out 20, T Thushara c Khurram Manzoor b Saeed Ajmal 10, A Mendis st Kamran Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 5; Extras (b 1, lb 3, nb 1) 5; Total (all out; 81 overs) 292

... contd.