GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – The bowlers dominated  the opening day of the first test yesterday, with Pakistan  slumping to 15 for two after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292.

The visitors were on top for most of the day before Sri  Lanka fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara picked  up a wicket apiece before the close.

Kulasekara bowled Salman Butt for a duck when the opener  shouldered arms to a delivery that cut sharply off the seam and  left-armer Thushara trapped Khurram Manzoor leg before for two  with another inswinger.

Earlier, Tharanga Paranavitana top-scored for the home team  with 72 while all-rounder Angelo Mathews contributed 42 in 57  deliveries.

Maiden fifty

Opener Paranavitana’s maiden test half-century rescued the  hosts after 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Aamer had struck twice  on his debut to leave Sri Lanka reeling on 21 for two on the  first day of the three-match series.

The 27-year-old left-hander, who faced 125 balls and hit 11  fours, added 75 runs for the third wicket with former captain  Mahela Jayawardene (30) who fell just before lunch when he was  caught behind off another debutant fast bowler, Abdur Rauf.

Jayawardene’s dismissal was a relief for wicketkeeper Kamran  Akmal, who dropped the right-hander before he had scored.

After lunch Paranavitana put on 43 with Thilan Samaraweera  (31), who was making his first-class comeback after being  injured in the Lahore attacks four months ago.

Paranavitana then edged a rising delivery from Rauf to  Misbah-ul-Haq before Samaraweera clipped a gentle outswinger  from part-time medium pacer Younus Khan to the keeper.

Aamer was the pick of the attack with three for 74 while  captain Younus, Rauf and debutant off-spinner Saeed Ajmal all  took two apiece.