Jayawardene, Dilshan flay New Zealand in first Test

Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan pulverized New Zealand's bowlers to help Sri Lanka make a spectacular start in the first cricket Test on Tuesday. Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 108 and Dilshan smashed 92 off 72 balls Jayawardene, who gave up the captaincy earlier this year to concentrate on his batting, achieved his 26th Test century on the easy-paced wicket at the Galle International Stadium. Dilshan hit the fastest Test half-century by a Sri Lankan, off only 30 balls and upstaging former captain Arjuna Ranatunga's 31-ball effort against India at Kanpur in 1986. Martin gave the Test a dramatic start when he had Tharanga Paranavitana, Dilshan's fellow opener, edging the third ball of the match to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum. Martin then removed Kumar Sangakkara for eight, the Sri Lankan captain flicking a half-volley to the mid-wicket fielder after hitting two boundaries in the same over. Seamer Iain O'Brien, who bore the brunt of Dilshan's assault and conceded 55 runs in his first six overs, denied the batsman his ninth Test century by bowling him off the inside edge soon after lunch. The Black Caps will play two Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and a limited-overs tri-series also featuring India during the five-week tour.