© AFP

Galle International Stadium in the historic port city of Galle was the venue for the first Test match between Sri Lanka and India. The match got off to a delayed start because of rain. Sanath Jayasuriya decided to put India to bat first on a pitch that was full of grass. He had his side packed with four seam bowlers and the Indians were put on the defensive straight away. SS Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh started the Indian first innings at a snail's pace, runs trickling in at a very slow rate. The two batsmen put together 79 runs for the first wicket in 41.3 overs. Ramesh (42) was the first wicket to fall to the off spin magician Muttiah Muralitharan.