Welegedara rocks Indian top-order in first test

By Sanjay Rajan

AHMEDABAD (Reuters) - Sri Lanka quick Chanaka Welegedara celebrated his return to test cricket with a withering three-wicket burst as India spluttered to 105 for four after the opening session of the first test at the Motera on Monday.

Left-arm Welegedara dismissed openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag for one and 16, and Sachin Tendulkar for four, before Dammika Prasad clean bowled Vangipurappu Laxman for a duck to raise Sri Lanka's hopes of recording their first test win on Indian soil.

With the hosts reduced to 32 for four in 10 overs after electing to bat first, Rahul Dravid compiled a well-made 45, combining with Yuvraj Singh (35 not out) for a 73-run stand to stem the bleeding.

With Sri Lanka's regular paceman Nuwan Kulasekara dropped and Thilan Thushara out with a shoulder injury, Welegedara made the most of the call-up for only his second test.

After having Gambhir out playing on to his stumps, the paceman trapped Sehwag leg before and bowled Tendulkar in the same over with a delivery that swung in.

Dravid and Yuvraj settled down after a cautious start to resurrect India's total.

Dravid was precise in his shot selection and left-hander Yuvraj was fluent in his strokeplay, the pick of his seven boundaries a straight drive off master off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is playing in his last overseas test series.

(Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)