Sri Lanka piled on the misery against hosts Zimbabwe in the 1st Test between the two teams in Harare as they reached 317/4 at stumps on day one.
Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne added a controlled 123 runs for the first wicket, the best stand for Silva and Karunaratne in 2016. Later on, Kusal Perera joined Silva to steady the innings during their 75-run stand.
Karunaratne who made only 41 runs in 6 innings against Australia in July/August scored his 9th half-century but fell to the leg-spin of Graeme Cremer in the 38th over. He gave a regulation catch to Tino Mawoyo at short mid-wicket while trying to glance it through the leg-side.
Silva reached his 12th half-century and batted with great determination but perhaps got too bogged down when nearing his ton as he spooned a full toss off off-spinner Malcolm Waller to the mid-on fielder when he was on 94.
Perera and Silva were both dropped by wicket-keeper Peter Moor behind the stumps when they were on 15 and 89 respectively. Perera made the most of the opportunity handed to him as he went on to secure his 1st Test ton off 104 deliveries with a drive through extra cover off Donald Tiripano.
Kusal Mendis looked fluent at the crease but was lucky to survive an LBW shout by Christopher Mpofu, who struck him right in front of the wickets with an in dipper. He made 34 runs in an 84 run partnership with Perera as Sri Lanka put their foot on the accelerator after tea.
Mendis fell to Zimbabwean skipper Graeme Cremer and Perera followed not long after as he was caught brilliantly at extra cover by Malcolm Waller, nearing the end of the day’s play.
Dhananjaya De Silva and Upul Tharanga saw the visitors to stumps.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka’s 14th Test captain, Rangana Herath won the toss and elected to bat in the 100th Test for Zimbabwe. The visitors handed Test debuts to fast-bowler Lahiru Kumara and middle-order batsman, Asela Gunarathne.
19-year old Kumara from Trinity College, Kandy has played only two first-class matches and impressed with the Sri Lanka U19 team in England recently taking 13 wickets in 2 games. He took 11 wickets in the second youth Test as the young Sri Lankans won the two-match series, 1-0.
30-year old Gunarathne representing Sri Lanka Army Sports Club has an impressive first-class average of 42 in 67 games with 4320 runs to his name. He played one single T20I against India earlier this year in Vishakapatnam.
Sri Lanka – 185/1 in 57 overs: Dimuth Karunaratne 56, Kaushal Silva 92*, Kusal Perera 37*.
