Left-handed opener Malinda Warnapura scored his maiden century to put Sri Lanka in control on the opening day of their first Test against the West Indies at the National stadium here on Saturday. At tea, the visitors had reached a commanding 190 for the loss of Michael Vandort.

After Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and opted to bat on a grassless surface, the 28-year-old from Colombo groung the listless West Indian attack, first in the company of Vandort and then alongside the classy Kumar Sangakkara.

Warnapura grabbed an early advantage for the tourists with a patient unbeaten 114 from 213 balls, hitting 13 boundaries. Sangakkara was 23 not out at the interval, having shared an unbroken 60-run partnership with Warnapura, who had added 130 for the first wicket with Vandort (52).

New-ball bowlers Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor found the outside edge a couple of times, but the openers looked comfortable on the slow pitch. After lunch, Vandort was trapped lbw by an inswinging yorker from Taylor.

Warnapura nearly mis-sed out on a first Test hundred when he edged an off-break from Chris Gayle to slip on 95 and was dropped. Sri Lanka picked two spinners, with slow left-armer Rangana Herath partnering Muttiah Muralitharan.

SCORE BOARD

SRI LANKA (I Innings):
Vandort lbw Taylor 52
Warnapura (batting) 114
Sangakkara (batting) 23
Extras (LB-1) 1
Total (for 1 wkt, 64 overs) 190
Fall of wicket: 1-130.
Bowling: Powell 11-1-49-0, Taylor 10-2-25-1, Gayle 16-2-38-0, Bravo 11-1-25-0, Benn 13-3-42-0, R Hinds 3-0-10-0.