Sri Lanka batted solidly through the length of their innings to raise 289 for six against India in a crucial triangular series match here at Gabba on Tuesday.
After openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (51) and Mahela Jayawardene (45) put on 95 runs for the first wicket, Dinesh Chandimal (38), Lahiru Thirimanne (62) and Angelo Matthews (49 not out) contributed handsomely, besides raising productive stands to chalk up an impressive total.
Opting to bat, Sri Lankans were off to a brisk start as the newly formed opening pair - the experienced Dilshan and Jayawardene - shifted gears with effortless ease.
Dilshan was circumspect to begin with in the first over of R Vinay Kumar but then eased the Karnataka medium-pacer through covers in his second and struck a fierce cut off Irfan Pathan, which disappeared quickly behind the ropes.
Umesh Yadav came on in the sixth over and it wasn't a pleasant experience at all for the young quick bowler.
Dilshan flashed at his fourth delivery that took an edge and flew over third man for a massive six. The next delivery was thrashed past covers and Sri Lanka's launch pad was ready.
Dilshan picked up yet another four off a Vinay Kumar delivery by flicking him past the midwicket boundary.
Jayawardene, all this while, was intelligently rotating the strike and had hit just one four, a thrust past midwicket off Yadav, as the 50 of the innings came up in the 10th over.
The Lankan pair kept up the consolidation work and at the first drinks break after 17 overs, the score was 84 for no loss.
