GALLE, Sri Lanka, 10 March 2004 — Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed a superb century as Sri Lanka surged into a strong position against Australia in the opening cricket Test here yesterday.
The middle-order batsman struck one six and 12 fours for 104, his third Test century, as Sri Lanka reached 352-6 at stumps on the second day in reply to Australia’s modest first-innings total of 220.
Thilan Samaraweera (21) was batting with Upul Chandana (20) at the close of play. The hosts are now 132 runs ahead with four wickets in hand.
Australia had reasons to be disappointed with leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, who failed to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen on a pitch, which favored the slow bowlers.
Warne grabbed one wicket and MacGill none as Sri Lanka strengthened their position through Dilshan, who put on 75 runs for the fourth wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (68) and 100 for the next with skipper Hashan Tillakaratne (33).
Warne, returning to Test cricket after serving a 12-month drug-ban, also dropped Dilshan at first slip off paceman Michael Kasprowicz when the batsman was on 96. A miserable day for Warne also saw him smashed by Dilshan for a four and a six off successive deliveries.
The famed spinner had little to celebrate on the second day of his comeback Test as his lone wicket came in the last session when he trapped Tillakaratne leg-before bowling round the stumps.
Warne bowled unchanged for more than an hour in the morning session, beating the bat on a few occasions with his turn but could not find the edge in his opening 13-over spell.
When he struck in his second spell, Sri Lanka had already gained the upper hand with their steady batting.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting kept rotating his spinners but none of them, including Warne, were able to trouble the Sri Lankans.
Warne, who took one wicket on Monday, has far conceded 103 runs off 32 overs and MacGill 62 off 18.
Surprisingly, Australian pace bowlers Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie looked more impressive on a pitch, which hardly helped them.
Kasprowicz grabbed two wickets, including that of Dilshan who was caught by Justin Langer at mid-on while attempting to pull. He had earlier held a low return catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara (22).
Gillespie’s lone victim was Marvan Atapattu (47), who inside-edged the delivery on to his stumps after hitting seven fours in his 113-ball knock.
The day belonged to Dilshan, who batted comfortably against both spin and pace to thwart Australia with his rich stroke-play.
Dilshan received valuable support from Jayawardene, who had been batting fluently before driving a fuller-length delivery to Matthew Hayden at point to become part-time off-spinner Andrew Symonds’ first Test victim.
Jayawardene hit eight fours in his 20th Test half-century. Sri Lanka batted well throughout the day, losing two wickets in the first session, one in the second and two in the last after resuming at 81-1 to end the day on an impressive note.
