Atapattu was in sparkling form for the tourists in St Lucia More pictures from day one

Marvan Atapattu cracked a wonderful century to give Sri Lanka a slight advantage after a rain-interrupted first day of the first Test against West Indies in St Lucia.

Atapattu was unbeaten on 108 as Sri Lanka reached 250 for four before rain brought play to a premature close with a little under three scheduled overs still to be bowled.

The Sinhalese Sports Club opener was the tourists' key man but Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Mahela Jayawardene (45) also chipped in with key contributions.

Sanath Jayasuriya was dismissed for eight before lunch while Sangakkara fell midway through the afternoon session.

Sangakkara became the ninth Sri Lanka batsman to complete 2,000 Test runs during the morning session.

The tourists, who won the one-day series 2-1, opted to bat first after winning the toss.

Merv Dillon bowled a tight new-ball spell but it was Collymore, playing his first Test for four years, who made the breakthrough by having Sanath Jayasuriya caught by Omari Banks for eight.

A short ball wide of off stump fed Jayasuriya's favourite square cut but he failed to get on top of the ball and Banks pouched the catch safely at gully.

Sangakkara had looked comfortable for his fifty, despite the attentions of West Indies skipper Brian Lara who was unhappy with the batsman running down the wicket.

Sangakkara was eventually out lbw padding up to spinner Chris Gayle, to the obvious gratification of the West Indies team.

Taylor set for Test debut

West Indies gave a debut to 18-year-old paceman Jerome Taylor and he was used as first change by skipper Brian Lara.

But he understandably showed signs of nerves and conceded 23 from four overs before lunch, forcing Lara to bring off-spinner Banks into the attack.

West Indies: BC Lara (capt), RR Sarwan, CH Gayle, DS Smith, WW Hinds, D Ganga, MN Samuels, RD Jacobs, CS Baugh, OAC Banks, VC Drakes, M Dillon, CD Collymore, JE Taylor.

Sri Lanka: MS Atapattu, ST Jayasuriya, KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene, TM Dilshan, TT Samaraweera, HP Tillakaratne (capt), KS Lokuarachchi, MTT Mirando, KADM Fernando, HGD Nayanakantha, RS Kaluwitharana, WPUJC Vaas, M Muralitharan, HDPK Dharmasena, RAP Nissanka.