Sri Lanka's Vandort hits century against India in tour match

Colombo, August 8: Left-handed opener Michael Vandort compiled an impressive 116 against the touring Indians to help Sri Lanka Board XI post 326 all out on the opening day of the three-day match here on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old struck 19 fours to keep the Indian attack at bay after fast bowler Javagal Srinath had taken two early wickets to reduce the hosts to 45-3.

Vandort steadied the innings with a 58-run stand for the fourth wicket with former Test star Hashan Tillekaratne, who made 26.

Vandort then added 61 for the sixth wicket with skipper Thilan Samaraweera, who hit one six and nine boundaries in his 76.

India faced just one delivery without scoring before stumps were drawn for the day because of bad light.

India are due to begin a three-Test series against Sri Lanka at Galle next Tuesday.

The representative Board side, which elected to take first strike after winning the toss, made a shaky start against the potent new ball pair of Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

Srinath, returning to the Indian team after opting out of the recent one-day triangular series, warmed up in style by having Avishka Gunawardene caught by wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe for a duck.

Test prospect Kumar Sangakkara also fell in similar fashion to leave the home team struggling on 26-2.

Prasad, recalled in place of the injured Ashish Nehra, found immediate success when he had Chamara Silva caught behind.

Dighe, who took four catches in the match, failed to stump Vandort off left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi when the batsman was on 41.

Vandort made the most of the chance and went on to dominate the Indian attack. He completed his century just before tea with a boundary off Sanghvi.

Vandort then punished paceman Harvinder Singh with three fours before being caught by Sadagopan Ramesh at gully in the same over.