West Indies paceman Daren Powell (left) reacts after Sri Lanka opener Michael Vandort hits a boundary during the first day of the first Test at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday. - AP

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

FAST BOWLER Jerome Taylor grabbed two late wickets to lead a West Indies fightback against Sri Lanka on the first day of the opening Digicel Test at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday.

Taylor claimed the wickets of Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera but Sri Lanka still dominated the day to end on 269 for four after winning the toss on a hard, true pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers.

The total was built around a maiden Test century from Malinda Warnapura and his record opening stand with Michael Vandort that set up the visitors for a healthy first innings total.

Warnapura stroked the ball beautifully in fashioning 120, while Vandort also played solidly for 52 and their efforts, along with San-gakkara's even 50 lifted Sri Lanka to 243 for two before Taylor's double-strike helped bring the West Indies back into the match.

Outstanding run spree

Sangakkara, who enjoyed an outstanding run spree in 2007, edged a drive to first slip and in the same over Samaraweera gave a low catch to substitute Travis Dowlin at short mid-wicket for nought, to bring some joy among a crowd of about 5,000.

Taylor, who was by far the most effective West Indies bowler on the day, finished with three for 59 from 18 overs.

The first half of the day belonged to the left-handed Warnapura who batted impressively, especially when he was stroking the ball through the off-side.

He was given good support by fellow left-hander Vandort as the pair featured in a record opening stand.

They put on 130 before Vandort's dismissal, lbw to a full length ball from Taylor, provided the West Indies with their only wicket in the first two sessions of the day.

Lost chance

In 10 previous Tests between the two countries, the highest opening stand by Sri Lanka was an unbroken 126 between Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu at the Beausejour Stadium in 2003.

The West Indies had chance to remove Warnapura when he was 95, but Dwayne Bravo was unable to hold on to a sharp offering at slip off captain Chris Gayle.

Warnapura duly reached his century but he fell half-hour after tea when he gloved a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Bravo. He batted for four and a half hours, faced 226 balls and stroked 14 fours.

Vandort was the perfect partner until he was dismissed in the middle of the post-lunch session after spending 166 minutes at the crease in which time he faced 117 balls and struck eight boundaries.

Sangakkara joined Warnapura and the pair added 75 for the second wicket. Sangakkara also had a chance on 44, but it did not prove costly.

It was put down by vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who was diving to his left at short mid-off.

Damaged finger

Sarwan, who was making a return to the West Indies since recovering from the latest in a series of injuries, damaged his little finger and immediately left the field.

He was treated by physiotherapist C.J. Clark and was scheduled to have an X-ray last night, but the damage was not bad as it appeared and Sarwan is expected to take the field today.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is unbeaten on 25, will lead his team's fight on the second day.

The West Indies, who opted to go into the match with only two specialist fast bowlers after opting to omit Fidel Edwards, had to turn to spin for much of the day.

Debutant left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn and captain Chris Gayle shared 35 overs of steady bowling but were unable to come up with a wicket.

Apart from Edwards, the West Indies also omitted opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon and uncapped offspinner Amit Jaggernauth. Chattergoon was forced to sit out because of a viral illness.

Sri Lanka first innings

M. Vandort lbw Taylor 52

M. Warnapura c Ramdin

b Bravo 120

K. Sangakkara c Smith

b Taylor 50

M. Jayawardene not out 25

T. Samaraweera c sub (Dowlin) b Taylor 0

T. Dilshan not out 15

Extras: (lb4, w1, nb2) 7

TOTAL: (for four wkts - 90 overs) 269

Fall: 1-130, 2-205, 3-243, 4-243.

To bat: P. Jayawardene, C. Vaas, T. Thushara, R. Herath, M. Muralitharan.

Bowling: Powell 16-1-64-0, Taylor 18-4-59-3, Gayle 16-2-38-0, Bravo 19-1-48-1 (w1, nb2), Benn 18-5-46-0, Hinds 3-0-10-0.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, Simon Taufel.

TV replays: Clyde Duncan.