Warnapura sets the pace
Opener Malinda Warnapura’s maiden Test century put Sri Lanka in control of the first Test despite a late fightback by West Indies.
Sri Lanka reached stumps on day one in Guyana on 260 for four thanks to Warnapura’s 120 and half-centuries from Michael Vandort and Kumar Sangakkara.
But three wickets in the evening session, including two in one Jerome Taylor over, took some of the gloss off the day for the tourists.
After Sri Lanka chose to bat, Warnapura and Vandort shared an opening stand worth 130 that spanned the entire first session.
Vandort was the only man to fall during the afternoon session, trapped lbw for 52 by a full-length delivery from Taylor.
But Warnapura, playing his third Test and first on foreign soil, brought up his century off 183 balls, having hit 12 fours.
He remained unbeaten on 114 at tea, with Sangakkara also at the crease.
The evening session proved a little more uncomfortable for the tourists, Warnapura adding just six more before gloving Dwayne Bravo to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin to end a second-wicket stand worth 75.
Sangakarra was next to go, edging Taylor to Devon Smith at first slip for 50, and Thilan Samaraweera did not last long, finding substitute fielder Travis Dowlin at midwicket off the second ball he faced.
That left captain Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan to see Sri Lanka through to the close without further damage.
Dowlin was on the field because Ramnaresh Sarwan sustained an injury to his left hand in the field.
However, Sarwan, making his international return after 10 months out with a shoulder injury, is expected to be fit to take the field on the second day.
Malinda Warnapura works the ball off his hips on the way to three figures © Getty Images
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