Ervine defies Sri Lanka with unbeaten 151

Craig Ervine’s unbeaten 151, his career-best knock, hauled Zimbabwe out of trouble on the opening day of its one-off Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.

Ervine's second Test century lifted Zimbabwe from a dodgy 70 for 4 to 344 for 8 at stumps. Keeping him company at the close was Donald Tiripano (24), their ninth-wicket already worth 62 against an increasingly frustrated home side.

Ervine, the left-hand batsman who surpassed his previous Test best of 146, built crucial partnerships including 84 for the fifth wicket with Sikandar Raza (36).

Rangana Herath, the 39-year-old left-arm spinner who finished the day with figures of 4 for 106, provided early success for the home side after Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka's new Test captain, lost the toss.

Herath sent back the opening pair of Regis Chakabva (12) and Hamilton Masakadza (19) to rattle the Zimbabwe top-order at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Lahiru Kumara, the paceman, then had debutant batsman Tarisai Musakanda caught behind for six as Zimbabwe suffered regular blows in the first two sessions.

Herath accounted for Raza and then Malcolm Waller (36) as the day progressed, but Ervine stood firm from one end to thwart Sri Lanka's bowlers.

Asela Gunaratne, the medium-pacer, picked up two wickets while Dilruwan Perera, the off-spinner, and Kumara took a wicket each.

Graeme Cremer's Zimbabwe is on a high after completing a 3-2 victory in the One-Day International series this week, and has already put Sri Lanka under some pressure at the end of the first day of the only Test.