FAISALABAD, Pakistan, 21 October 2004 — All-rounder Thilan Samaraweera pulled Sri Lanka out of deep trouble with an unbeaten 97 on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan yesterday.

The 28-year-old overcame some aggressive bowling during Sri Lanka’s impressive recovery from 9-3 to 233-7 at the close, after they won the toss and decided to bat on a firm pitch with a tinge of grass. When stumps were drawn five overs before the agreed 83-overs a day due to bad light, Rangana Herath was unbeaten on 28. The visitors started disastrously, losing skipper Marvan Atapattu off the third ball. He missed Shoaib Akhtar’s full-pitch delivery and was adjudged leg before without scoring. It became 6-2 when Kumar Sangakkara edged Akhtar to third slip, where Imran Farhat took a low catch.

Mohammad Sami then swung one across Mahela Jayawardene, who edged it to wicketkeeper Moin Khan without scoring to leave Sri Lanka in tatters at 9-3.

Samaraweera, who hit a century on his Test debut against India in 2001, walked in to save Sri Lanka’s blushes. He was involved in three partnerships during his 325-minute vigil at the crease which included ten boundaries.

Samaraweera, who batted with a runner in the last session, put on 68 for the fourth wicket stand with Sanath Jayasuriya, who had two escapes. Jayasuriya was let off by skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq on 27 and then on 32 by Shoaib Malik, with Abdul Razzaq the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

When Jayasuriya reached 36 soon after lunch, he became only the second Sri Lankan behind Aravinda de Silva (6,136 runs in 93 Tests) and the 37th batsmen in the world to reach 6000 Test runs.

But Jayasuriya, playing in his 93rd Test, miscued a drive off Sami two runs later and was caught by Asim Kamal.

Samaraweera remained unperturbed and reached his seventh Test half century in 159 minutes with five boundaries. He added another invaluable 65 runs with Jehan Mubarak for the fifth wicket to take the tourists to 142-4 at tea.

Sami dismissed Mubarak with the third ball after tea for 34 and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria removed Romesh Kaluwitharana for four to bring Pakistan back on track.

Samaraweera added another 33 for the seventh wicket with Chaminda Vaas before Akhtar returned for his fourth spell to dismiss Vaas for 22 to finish with 3-55. Sami returned figures of 3-66.

Sri Lanka, who beat Pakistan to lift the tri-series one-day tournament last week, played three seamers and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath with Samaraweera’s off-spin as a bonus. Pakistan made three changes from the tri-series final line-up, recalling specialist Test batsmen Imran Farhat and Asim Kamal and spinner Danish Kaneria.

The second Test starts in Karachi on Oct. 28.