The first day of the first test match at Galle between Sri Lanka and Pakistan saw 12 wickets fall, as both teams struggled to take advantage. This was a far cry from the test matches in Pakistan which had the same set of sides struggle to capture wickets!
Rather surprisingly, Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first, but the decision was vindicated on the first day wicket as the hosts lost Malinda Warnapura and captain Kumar Sangakkara in quick succession to debutant Mohammad Aamer in his first two overs. The other opener, Tharanga Paranavitana and former captain, Mahela Jayawardene then tried to counter-attack and do some repair job, but wickets fell at regular interval. Jayawardene was dismissed in his 30s, while Paranavitana scored a quick-fire 50 – 67 deliveries – before being undone by the other debutant, Abdur Rauf.
However, given that they had gone in with Sangakkara as the specialist wicket meant that they could play an extra batsman, and that was in the form of Angelo Mathews. This move proved to be crucial as Mathews went after the bowling and smashed a 57-ball 42, and was involved in a 47-run eighth wicket stand with Nuwan Kulasekera.
Aamer had bowled well to scalp 3/74 on debut, while Rauf, Saeed Ajmal, and a surprise package in the captain Younus Khan himself, picked two each.
In reply, both the Pakistani openers, Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor, were dismissed by the time the score had reached five. Younus Khan survived some anxious moments and ended the day at 15/2 for the Pakistanis.