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Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene celebrates making a century - Source: Reuters -
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Sri Lanka batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene demoralised New Zealand's bowling attack on the series-opening day at Galle International Stadium.
At stumps on a rain-affected day Sri Lanka were in total control of the first test due to Dilshan's explosive counter-attacking 92 from 72 balls and former captain Jayawardene's relatively uneventful 26th test hundred.
The duo were responsible for Sri Lanka regrouping from 16 from two in the third over of the morning to an ominous 293 for three at the close of a day 90 minutes late starting due to rain.
New Zealand may well regret the decision to send Sri Lanka in as they will have to bat last on a wearing pitch against legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and heir apparent Ajantha Mendis.
Jayawardene resumes tomorrow on 108 alongside Thilan Samaraweera, who is 18 runs short of his 10th test ton.
Dilshan brazenly talked up his destructive capabilities after crunching 68 from 60 deliveries when the tourists' test-strength attack indulged in their final pre-test warm-up in Colombo last week.
And he justified his bullishness by marking his first test as an opening batsman with a boundary-laden performance reminiscent of predecessor Sanath Jayasuriya in his pomp.
The loss of Tharanga Paranavitana to a third ball duck and captain Kumar Sangakkara barely registered with Dilshan who played to form by again treating New Zealand's bowlers with disdain, save Daniel Vettori.
Dilshan rocketed to Sri Lanka's fastest test fifty with eight boundaries and a six scattered among his first 30 balls; his country's quickest ton was also on the horizon until Iain O'Brien's luck changed momentarily when a juicy offering cannoned off the inside edge on to middle stump.
Had the covers not been removed until after the scheduled start time - and the session not be trimmed by half an hour, Dilshan might have become only the fourth test cricketer to make a hundred before lunch on the day one - and the first since Majid Khan flayed New Zealand's attack at Karachi in 1976.
Jayawardene, meanwhile, produced a graceful century similar to his maiden test hundred, the unbeaten 167 compiled below Galle Fort against New Zealand when the picturesque venue was first granted test status in 1998.
Understandably content to feed Dilshan the strike during their 118-run stand for the third wicket, the former captain then assumed control of a 159-run partnership with Samaraweera that threatens to bat New Zealand out of the contest.
Jayawardene, in no mood to follow Dilshan's example, required a sluggish 104 balls for his half century and moved to three figures in his fifth hour at the crease with a 13th boundary.
He resumes tomorrow on 108 though Samaraweera was fortunate to survive to the close after English umpire Nigel Llong noticed a non-existent edge when O'Brien struck the batsman plumb on the back foot.
That near miss emphasised New Zealand's frustrations since Chris Martin's double breakthrough relegated Danny Morrison to fifth place on New Zealand's list of test wicket takers.
Martin ended the day with two for 59 from 15 overs and 162 wickets from 49 tests, two clear of Morrison.
Llong's oversight was excruciating for O'Brien, who bore the brunt of Dilshan's blitz and never truly recovered.
Relieved after four overs with the new ball leaking 40, O'Brien
returned after lunch to remove his tormentor but remained
expensive, his 14 costing 90 and including just one maiden.
O'Brien did not suffer alone.
Only Vettori was able to avoid Dilshan's excesses, and bowled tightly to concede 48 from his 25 overs.
However, wickets eluded the captain and his combination with Jeetan Patel never bore fruit as the offspinner's 15 overs went for 60.
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