Colombo, July 23: Oscillating between bright sunshine and periods of gloom the Colombo weather offered scope only for 22 overs of cricket on the first day of the India-Sri Lanka Test series at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on Wednesday.

The truncated opening day was the last thing the series wanted. On a wicket that requires enormous amount of concentration and ability to graft, the hosts, after winning the toss, marched to 85/2 before bad light forced play to be called off 20 overs before scheduled close. Opener Malinda Warnapura looked awkward when peppered with the short ball but hung on grimly to post an unbeaten 50 (74b, 6x4). Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, either offering dead defence or playing with a flourish off the front foot, was giving him company with 16.

The SSC square was swathed in covers for most part of morning. The good drainage system at the venue and the untiring efforts of the groundsmen ensured that play finally got under way at 3.30pm local time after two inspections. The wicket that was devoid of direct contact with sunlight played a touch slow. Medium pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishanth Sharma were to gain some bounce by hitting the seam but all that may die down quickly. Michael Vandort followed an away going delivery from Ishanth that got big from short of length and nicked it to Dinesh Karthik who moved swiftly to his left and pouched a smart catch. Karthik, back in the Test team after a while, became the third most capped Test cricketer from Tamil Nadu. Ishanth, working up decent pace troubled Warnapura as did Zaheer from the other end. Scoring opportunities were also provided at regular intervals that allowed the southpaw to wriggle away.

Warnapura managed three boundaries in one over from Ishanth who was guilty of bowling on either side of the wicket while also giving the hittable length. A square cut, a straight drive and a flick set Warnapura up well. Kumar Sangakkara who ahs been the thorn for many attacks in this wicket looked classy as usual but Zaheer got the better of him with a delivery that swung away late, a dismissal well set up by the seamer who got a majority of his deliveries to slant in or hold the line. Anil Kumble’s decision to stick with Zaheer from the far end finally paid of in the 13th over.

Sourav Ganguly replaced Ishanth but his pace held out no threat on a wicket where the ball was already dying on the bat. Runs were collected with a measure of comfort. Jayawardene was easy on the eye with two pleasing drives in front of the wicket. A tiring Zaheer provided a few easy runs before Ishanth came to operate from that end. It made no difference as the two batsmen fully aware of the fading light batted to safety. The solitary over from Harbhajan Singh cost seven runs and the sudden dip in light ensured an early close. Kumble supported his pacemen with attacking fields and Ishanth and Zaheer responded well by trying hard. Play on day two will start 30 minutes before schedule and will be extended till light holds good to make up for the 68 overs of play that was lost.