Dimuth Karunarathne’s second Test century propelled Sri Lanka to 272/8 but Pakistan took major honours at the end of day one in the third Test against Pakistan at Pallekelle on Friday.
Opener Dimuth Karunarathne played the anchor role during his terrific 130 off 230 balls with 14 fours but Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali shared 6 wickets to dismantle the inexperienced Lankan batting lineup. Incidentally this is the first Test century by a Sri Lankan at Pallekelle.
Earlier, Misbah Ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bowl with both teams making four changes each for this all-important series-decider. The Pakistani fast-bowling trio tested the Lankans throughout the first session with probing spells but the hosts’ lost only Kaushal Silva (9) when he was nicked and caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed off left-armer Rahat Ali.
Tharanga making a return to the Test team after a lapse of one year, had to undergo hard times facing the visitors outside the off-stump but he gave a superb helping hand to Dimuth. Pakistan’s chief destroyer this series, Yasir Shah took up his daily routine when he induced Upul Tharanga (46) to play an expansive cover drive which took the outside edge but lobbed off the keepers’ arm and was grabbed by Younis Khan at first slip to end a steady stand of 91 runs for the second wicket.
Vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne took 16 deliveries to score his first run and later after scoring 11 runs he gave it away by just coming down the track and punching straight to mid-off fielder against Shah. Angelo Mathews made the same mistake few overs later when he succumbed to the bowling of Shah attempting a lofted shot but gave a simple chance to the mid-on fielder as Sri Lanka was 137 for 4 after being 106 for 1. Both catches were taken by substitute fielder Babar Azam.
Jehan Mubarak playing his first Test after 8 years, kept his cool and calmly eased off the Yasir Shah threat for quite some time producing a valuable 67-run stand for the 5th wicket. The tall left-hander stroked 25 off 63 until he misjudged a Yasir Shah delivery and was stumped. 
Dimuth was then joined by Chandimal and they too batted without too many problems in their 44-run stand for the 6th wicket, before part-time leg-spinner Azhar Ali took two in two when Karunaratne was dismissed stumped off a googly and Dhammika Prasad was brilliantly caught by Yasir Shah at deep square leg as Sri Lanka once again gave the upper hand to the visitors.
Dinesh Chandimal was the last man to be dismissed on day one when he was trapped LBW thanks to UDRS off Rahat Ali for 24 in the 85th over. Tharindu Kaushal remained unbeaten on 17* with Suranga Lakmal 1*.
Sri Lanka – 272/8 in 86 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Jehan Mubarak 25, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Yasir Shah 4/77, Azhar Ali 2/35, Rahat Ali 2/74.
