First India-SL Test ends in tame draw

India crashed out for 167, its lowest Test score against Sri Lanka.

India crashed out for 167, its lowest Test score yet against Sri Lanka, before the series opener ended in a tame draw on Tuesday.

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Spearheaded by left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka's accurate attack claimed eight wickets for 77 runs on the fifth day after the home team posted a sedate 90 for the loss of its two openers on Monday.

Man-of-the-match Vaas claimed four for 20 as India was bundled out 13 runs below its previous lowest Test total against Sri Lanka of 180 at Galle in 2001.

India's dismal batting performance injected some interest into a match whose fate was decided by the weather as heavy showers, caused by Cyclone Baaz in the Bay of Bengal, ensured that the first delivery of the Test was not made until the fourth day's evening session.

This is the fourth international match in Chennai to be disrupted by rains since 2003.

Sri Lanka rode on Mahela Jayawardene's aggressive 71 to surpass India's first innings score, reaching 168 for four before play was called off.

Jayawardene struck one six and 14 boundaries off 93 deliveries before his two-hour knock ended in a doubtful bat-pad catch.

Australian umpire Daryl Harper responded positively to leg-spinner Anil Kumble's appeal for a catch by Gautam Gambhir at forward short-leg, but Jayawardene did not seem satisfied by the verdict.

Kumble (3-41) was the best Indian bowler on view, even though left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan dismissed Avishka Gunawardena (4) in the first over.

Pathan induced an edge from Gunawardena to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni.

Kumar Sangakkara struck five boundaries in his 52-ball knock of 30 before falling lbw to Kumble, who also clean bowled skipper Marvan Atapattu for seven.

Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 35 and Tillakeratne Dilshan on eight at the close of play.

India's batsmen were frustrated by an accurate Sri Lankan attack that featured seven successive maiden overs from Vaas, who was later adjudged the best player of the match.

Having dismissed both openers Monday, Vaas did not concede a single run in his first spell, but dismissed Indian skipper Rahul Dravid by inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Sangakkara. Dravid added just two runs to his overnight score of 30 before his 2-1/2 hour knock ended as he tried to drive an outswinger from Vaas (3-15).

Muttiah Muralitharan (2-60) accounted for star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and all-rounder Pathan.

Tendulkar scored a watchful 22 in 157 minutes before falling lbw to Muralitharan, who later caught Pathan off his own bowling. Pathan could not open his account.

Tendulkar failed to capitalize on a chance in the second over of the day when wicketkeeper Sangakkara, standing close to the stumps, failed to snap an edged shot off Vaas.

V. V. S. Laxman (5) was run out in a mix up with former skipper Sourav Ganguly, and was beaten by substitute Upul Tharanga's accurate throw from midwicket.

Former captain Ganguly scored just five and fell to a diving catch by Dilshan at point off pace bowler Dilhara Fernando (1-58). Ganguly, 33, lost the Indian Test captaincy last month when he was left out of the team for the 12 home one-day internationals against Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Test debutant Dhoni hit six boundaries in scoring 30 off 54 balls. He was the last man out, caught by Gunawardena trying to loft leg-spinner Malinga Bandara over the long-off fence.

Ajit Agarkar was run out for four and Kumble was caught and bowled by Vaas after making nine runs.