Windies' Solazano taken to hospital as Sri Lanka 163-1 in Galle

GALLE, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka made steady progress to reach 163-1 at tea in the opening Test Sunday against the West Indies, who 
had debutant Jeremy Solozano taken to hospital after being hit on the helmet 
while fielding.

   Solozano was fielding close in at short-leg when Dimuth Karunaratne 
attempted a full-blooded pull shot off the bowling of Roston Chase and the 
ball crashed into the fielder's helmet grill. 

   Medical staff attended to him on the ground before he was taken on a 
stretcher to a waiting ambulance which took him to hospital. 

   Later he was transferred to Colombo where he will undergo scans, with 
doctors suspecting internal bleeding.

   Sri Lanka skipper Karunaratne smashed an unbeaten 89 after a 139-run 
partnership with Pathum Nissanka, who was brought to the top order with 
batsman Lahiru Thirimanne unavailable.

   Shannon Gabriel provided the breakthrough for the tourists when he had 
Nissanka -- who was chasing a full delivery wide outside the off-stump -- 
caught by Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip for 56. 

   West Indies squandered an opportunity to dismiss Karunaratne on 14 when 
Rahkeem Cornwall found the outside edge of the bat but Jermaine Blackwood at 
slip was unable to hold on as he attempted a one-handed grab.

   Earlier, West Indies unsuccessfully reviewed after Karunaratne played an 
uncharacteristic reverse sweep off the left-arm orthodox spin of Jomel 
Warrican and the ball struck his front pad. 

   Television replays showed the impact was outside off-stump. 

   The tourists lost their second review over a caught behind appeal against 
Nissanka off the bowling of Roston Chase.

   They were denied a second wicket in the afternoon session when Warrican 
failed to take a return catch with Oshada Fernando on three.

   West Indies, who lost the toss, surprised fans by leaving out Kemar Roach, their most experienced player and the eighth-highest Test wicket-taker. BSS/AFP