The Sri lankan cricketers reached 85 for 2 on a rain-interupted opening day of the first test against India in Colombo.
Opener Malinda Warnapura scored an unbeaten 50, while India's new ball bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan claimed a wicket apiece during a single 22-over evening session after rain and a wet outfield delayed the start of play until 3:30 local time.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 16 when bad light stopped play for the day having added 28 runs for the third wicket with Warnapura.
Both teams went into the game with two spinners including unorthodox Sri Lanka debutant Ajantha Mendis who destroyed India with a haul of six wickets for 13 in the final of the Asia Cup one-day competition earlier this month.
However, the overcast conditions did not aid the dry pitch expected to favour spin, instead helping India's fast bowlers in the short evening session after Sri Lanka had won the toss and decided to bat.
