Sri Lanka scored 261 for the loss of eight wickets against Pakistan on Day One of the second Test being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground here.
It was former skipper Mahela Jayawardene's final Test, and he was given a rousing reception when he walked in to bat. Jayawardene arrived at the crease for the 251st time, to a guard of honour by the Pakistan team and with the crackle of the firecrackers in the background, 25 minutes before tea. He was 137 short of 3000 runs at the venue but could only shave off four runs in a nervous stay that ended in the first over after tea. In the 16 deliveries that he faced, he was dropped once by the wicketkeeper off Junaid Khan before he was trapped by a sharp offspinner from Saeed Ajmal. He chose not to review, and rightly so.
For the record, Pakistan's fast bowlers, Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz, placed Sri Lanka on the backfoot throughout the day with regular strikes.
Junaid Khan claimed four wickets for 69 runs of 21 overs, while Riaz claimed three wickets for 66 of 16.1 overs. Off-spinner Saee Ajmal claimed a wicket for 67 runs in 29 overs.
For Sri Lanka, opener W U Tharanga top scored with 92 with twelve boundaries. Fellow opener J K Silva scored 41, while skipper Angelo Mathews scored 39 with six and three boundaries respectively.
Veterans Sangakkara and Jayawardene scored 22 and four respectively.
The hosts scored their runs off 85.1 overs.