Lara helps Windies take charge

Brian Lara won his opening duel with Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on Tuesday to score his 16th Test century and help West Indies to 316 for three on the first day of the first Test.

Lara, who almost missed the tour with a long-term hamstring injury, was dropped twice as he faced 189 deliveries, hitting 12 fours to end on 117 not out while Muralitharan toiled away with little success.

The spinner, so successful at the Galle International stadium in the past, bowled 41 overs to return figures of one for 104.

West Indies captain Carl Hooper was the other batsman at the crease, on 34 not out, after an unbroken stand of 76.

It was Lara's first Test hundred for almost a year, since his 182 against Australia at Adelaide in December.

The Trinidadian reached three figures in lavish style, coming down the pitch to Muralitharan and lofting him over mid-off for four.

Lara had come to the Test under pressure to deliver and he made the most of a frustrating day for the host country who put him down on 31 and at 93.

On both occasions the offender was wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara with captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Muralitharan the unlucky bowlers.

The visitors won the toss and batted first on a firm grassless pitch.

The main partnership of the day came from Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, the pair contributing 145 before Sarwan, cutting at a ball spinning in to him, was bowled by Muralitharan after compiling a four-hour 88.

Sarwan had also been given a life when, on 78, Hashan Tillakaratne at forward short leg failed to hold a catch off Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka had pinned their bowing on spin but soon saw their slow bowlers hit to all corners.

Opener Daren Ganga was also among the runs with 47 before he became let-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas's second victim.

The two sides, meeting for only the fourth time at Test level, play three Tests before taking part in a triangular one-day tournament also involving Zimbabwe.

Mail Cricket Editor