Openers give Sri Lanka a good start (Lunch Report)

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COLOMBO - Opener Tillekaratne Dilshan hit a brisk half-century as Sri Lanka made 128 for one in the first innings at lunch against India on the first day of the second Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club here Monday.

Tharanga Pranavitana was batting on 45 and skipper Kumar Sangakkara on 18 at the lunch break as Sri Lanka looked set for a big first innings score against India.

Dilshan played some attacking shots on both side of the wickets as Sangakkara’s decision to bat first paid off. Dilshan’s 42-ball innings was studded with 10 fours.

Indian pacers Ishant Sharma and Abhimanyu Mithun hardly troubled the Sri Lankan openers, who added 99 runs for the first wicket.

Dilshan came down hard on Ishant as early as in the fourth over, by hitting the lanky fast bowler for four boundaries. Dilshan then smacked Mithun, playing his second Test match, for three fours in the 14th over forcing India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to introduce spin from both ends.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha provided India the much needed breakthrough when Dilshan smacked him hard but V.V.S. Laxman took a good catch short extra cover.

Both the teams made few changes in their side. Sri Lanka have inducted Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad and Dilhara Fernando in the squad. India have brought in Murali Vijay for Gautam Gambhir, who has a knee injury, while Suresh Raina comes in for Yuvraj Singh, who is down with fever.

Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0.