Recent Match Report - Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st Test 2021/22 - ESPNcricinfo

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A full-blooded pull from Karunaratne hit debutant Solozano on his helmet, as he went to ground immediately

Lunch Sri Lanka 61 for 0 (Karunaratne 32*, Nisaanka 25*) vs West Indies

Sri Lanka's openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka survived difficult examinations from Shannon Gabriel, Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican during an attritional first session in Galle.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bowl - a significant disadvantage at this venue - West Indies needed early wickets while the surface still had some moisture in it to get themselves into the match. But with both batters batting sagely - there were only five boundaries in the session - West Indies could only muster several close calls. Their biggest missed opportunity was the difficult dropped catch at slip when Karunaratne was on 14. Cornwall had got a ball to dip and bite, prompting an outside edge from the batter, who was trying to run the ball fine. The edge flew quickly past the gloves of the wicketkeeper, and Jermaine Blackwood could not cling to the chance with his right hand, managing only to palm it away.

West Indies burned two of their three reviews late in the session as well. When Karunaratne was on 27, Warrican dipped the ball below the batter's attempted reverse sweep and struck him on the pad only for replays to suggest Karunaratne had been hit outside the line of off stump. Then, during the penultimate over, Roston Chase slid one past the outside edge of Nissanka, and West Indies made a late decision to review. The noise the wicketkeeper and fielders had heard, however, was of ball brushing pad. Karunaratne was not out on 32 off 75 by lunch; Nissanka, who is opening the batting for the first time in Tests due to Lahiru Thirimanne's absence, was more watchful, making 25 off 90.

Before the spinners came on and immediately extracted assistance from the surface, Nissanka in particular had to see out a testing spell from Gabriel. It was a surprise that Gabriel was picked - presumably for his extra pace - over the more reliable Kemar Roach, but he was impressive during his four-over new-ball burst, seaming back-of-a-length deliveries repeatedly into the body of Nissanka. Jason Holder, who took the new ball from the other end was typically disciplined, delivering three maidens in his six-over spell, and conceding only nine runs.

Cornwall caused problems for the left-hander Karunaratne during his nine overs, and Warrican repeatedly beat the right-hander Nissanka's outside edge towards the end of the session when the surface seemed to be offering more turn. West Indies will hope that turn gets bigger through the day rather than settle after lunch, as sometimes happens at this venue.

They will also hope that debutant Jeremy Solozano clears his concussion tests after he was struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg by a full-blooded pull shot from Karunaratne. Solozano went to ground immediately, and was stretchered off the field. He will now undergo tests to determine if he can play any further part in this match. West Indies can replace him with a like-for-like concussion substitute if Solozano cannot play.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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Recent Match Report - Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st Test 2021/22 - ESPNcricinfo
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