The defiant Karunaratne carries the bat to Sri Lanka with 158

The 30-year-old Dutchman carried his bat through the Sri Lankan innings to stay unbeaten on 158 while the hosts finished on 287.

GALLE: Dimitri Karunaratne, drummer from Sri Lanka, hit a hundred undefeated defensemen on his return to give the hosts a total of first innings at the event. opening against South Africa Thursday

. The seven-year-old batted his way through the Sri Lankan innings to stay undefeated on 158 while the hosts finished 287 after captain Suranga Lakmal won the pitch and chose to beat in the first two-man series. trials. South Africa lost its first match, Aiden Markram, against veteran left arm, Rangana Herath, to reach four-on-one on the strains. Dean Elgar and night watchman Keshav Maharaj were on the plunge

Regular captain Dinesh Chandimal pled guilty to a disciplinary offense in the second test against the West Indies last month and chose to withdraw from the series against South Africa.

The International Cricket Council, the world governing body of sport, is expected to announce a verdict in the near future.

On a turning surface at Galle, it is fast melon Kagiso Rabada who did as much damage as possible. the tourist with four wickets for 50. The left wrist of the left arm Tabraiz Shamsi, playing only his second test, gave figures of 3-91.

Former spearhead Dale Steyn, returning to the South African team after a final injury test in January, picked up Kusal Mendis' counter for 24 to trigger a mini-collapse.

Rabada kidnapped former captain Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva in the same plus as the hosts lost three wickets for four races to be eft revived at 119-5

Karunaratne experienced, back to open the stick for the hosts after missing the West Indies tour due to injury, assembled significant stands with Niroshan Dickwella, who was 18, and Lakshan Sandakan, the duo adding 63 for the last wicket

The left-handed drummer knocked out 13 fours and a six during his undefeated shot of 222 balls.