Gaji
Tillakaratne Dilshan announce his entrance as Sri Lanka's new captain by beating 123 off 134 balls in the tourists' opening game next to Middlesex at Uxbridge.
Middlesex 360 for 8 dec and 26 for 1 lead Sri Lankans 309 for 2 dec (Dilshan 123, Paranavitana 103) by 77 runs.
Tharanga Paranavitana, who had joined Dilshan in an opening partnership of 209, the highest for any touring team alongside Middlesex, went on to make 103 before he connected the skipper in reserved to give other batsman a chance to impress.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal added a continuous 59 partnership to take the Sri Lankans to 309 for two affirmed. Dilshan delivered a mainly inspiring performance, having seen England captain Andrew Strauss make 151 on his first look of the period for Middlesex.
The visit skipper was drop on 10 by Jamie Dalrymple, low behind at second slip off Anthony Ireland, and once more on 114 by Strauss, diving to his right at point. But between those probabilities he played some wonderful shots which brought 14 fours and a six which was ambitious a long way back over Tom Smith's head.
He was also severe against Gurjit Sandhu, a 19-year-old left-arm seamer making his first-class first appearance, wounding him for three fours in the bowler's first over and driving him throughout the covers with the hit that took him to his hundred.
Paranavitana, a left-hander who is predictable to open with Dilshan in the first Test next to England at Cardiff on May 26, was more anesthetize but struck 15 fours on his way to a hundred from 145 balls.
Thirimanne and Chandimal, who could be challenging for the number six location in the Test side, also played well and, when Middlesex went in again 51 runs ahead, Suranga Lakmal picked up a wicket when Sam Robson played on. They reach the close on 26 for one.
Earlier, Middlesex, 321 for five during the night, added 39 in seven overs before their innings was stopped up at 360 for eight after 100 overs.
There were two wickets for Chanaka Welegedara, the left-arm seamer who will almost certainly share the new ball with Dilhara Fernando in the Test attack, and a second for Ajantha Mendis, the so-called anonymity spinner, who has had a unhappy start to his English summer.
Welegedara had Dawid Malan wedged at mid-on and Tom Smith wedged behind, while Mendis had Anthony Ireland well fixed by Thilan Samaraweera on the midwicket boundary.
Mendis, who took four for 285 in two championship matches for Somerset before tumbling out of the side with a back strain, completed with two for 83 from his 20 overs.
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