Balbirnie leads strong Irish opening in Sri Lanka

Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie has fallen five short of a maiden century as his side racked up an impressive 4-319 on the first day of their second Test in Sri Lanka.

Balbirnie made 95 in Galle before a misjudged paddle sweep cost him his wicket, but as skipper he will have been delighted by his country's most accomplished day of batting in their brief history in the format.

Their best total in five previous Tests was 339 in their inaugural game, but that record is almost certain to fall after a day that saw Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker make undefeated half-centuries of their own.

Stirling, who joined the group after the first Test, was forced to retire hurt on 74 after being struck down by cramp, but Tucker was unbeaten on 78 as the Irish held pole position at stumps on Monday.

"We are really happy obviously," Balbirnie said. "Took a lot from last week, we saw how they batted last week. There were four hundreds on the pitch. So we knew first-innings totals are so important on this pitch.

"Yes, it was a good day for us and hopefully we can make it a great day tomorrow."

Ireland chose to bat first despite being rolled over for 143 and 168 in an innings defeat against the same opponents last week, and lost both openers cheaply.

Peter Moor, promoted from No.6, was first to fall when Asitha Fernando had him lbw for five in his second over and James McCollum nicked a sharp turner from Prabath Jayasuriya for 10.

It was a promising start for a Sri Lankan side hoping to chalk up their 100th Test win in their 311th Test.

Balbirnie ignored the scoreboard pressure as he peeled off a 44-ball fifty, with eight boundaries along the way, but Harry Tector thrashed Jayasuriya to mid-on to leave Ireland 3-89.

Stirling showed no fear as he planted his third delivery for six and went on to take the aggressor role from his captain. Their stand of 115 – Ireland's biggest in Test cricket to date – included just 37 from Balbirnie.

They were only parted when Stirling's lack of acclimatisation time appeared to get the better of him. He tumbled to the floor after facing up to Fernando and received treatment before deciding he was in no state to continue.

Balbirnie went after miscuing a paddle sweep to slip but Tucker and Curtis Campher added 87 before the close.

- with AP