A top-drawer 95-run opening stand between Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan has put Sri Lanka in control at 2-117 after 25 overs of their Commonwealth Bank Series clash with India at the Gabba on Tuesday.
After winning the toss and jumping at the chance to bat, skipper Jayawardene (45) and Dilshan (51) were a picture of confidence and composure through the first third of the innings, scoring with ease against an uninspired Indian attack.
But as untroubled and in control as the batsmen looked, the breakthrough came in the 18th over, when Jayawardene pulled a rank long-hop from Irfan Pathan into the clutches of Virender Sehwag at mid-on.
Dilshan had time to pass his half-century, before edging recalled spinner Ravichandran Ashwin behind in the 22nd, granting the Indians some encouragement at 2-104, despite their lackadaisical start.
World-class keeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara (six not out) and exciting young No.4 Dinesh Chandimal (eight not out) were playing themselves in and looking confident at the halfway mark of the innings.
After seven overs the Sri Lankan opening duo had their side well and truly motoring, scoring at a run a ball, playing Vinay Kumar patiently and appearing completely at ease with Pathan and Umesh Yadav from the Stanley Street end.
A mistimed hook from Dilshan in the eighth over cleared the infield and ran away for two, taking the team total and partnership past 50. By the end of his second over, Yadav had conceded 20 runs.
With the field pushed back, and Sehwag introducing part-time end-holder Ravindra Jadeja, the Sri Lankans tweaked their approach at around the 10-over mark, working singles off nearly every ball, and continuing to coast at above five runs per over.
Jayawardene's dismissal in the 18th could have tempered Dilshan's freedom, but he showed it wouldn't, raising the team 100 with a slash for four and then nudging away to bring up his half-century, with both milestones arriving in the 19th over.