It was important for me to stay at the wicket and I did that Mahela Jayawardene More day one reaction

Mahela Jayawardene held Sri Lanka's first innings together with an unbeaten century but South Africa took first-day honours in the first Test in Galle.

Paceman Shaun Pollock returned the excellent figures of 4-24 to help restrict the hosts to 279-7.

Jayawardene scored 116 not out, hitting 15 boundaries and a six, with only Kumar Sangakkara (58) offering support.

Sri Lanka started and ended badly, with both openers ousted early and two men falling on the stroke of stumps.

The hosts opted for a balanced attack with two seamers and two spinners, including Muttiah Muralitharan who returns to Test cricket after a self-imposed exile level with leg-spinner Shane Warne on a world record 527 wickets.

South Africa called up Boeta Dippenaar to replace Herschelle Gibbs (ankle), while paceman Nantie Hayward, preferred to Andre Nel, returned to Test cricket for the first time since the second Test against Pakistan in January 2003.

Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu would have been regretting his decision to bat first when he followed Sanath Jayasuriya back to the pavilion with the score on 22.

Boje (left) struck a hefty blow when removing Sangakkara for 58

Pollock removed both, starting with Jayasuriya, who was caught at forward short-leg by Lance Klusener, returning to the Test arena after a two-and-a-half year absence.

And just 11 balls later Atapattu was lured into playing a defensive shot at a delivery that moved late in the air, edging to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

But Sangakkara steadied the ship after the shaky start with a pulsating counter-attacking innings that included 11 boundaries.

A brief rain break delayed his half-century, but soon after registering his 16th in Tests he was on his way when caught behind off left-arm spinner Boje, ending an 86-run stand for the third wicket.

The hosts were then 145-4 when Pollock trapped Thilan Samaraweera lbw for 13, but Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan played it safe to steer the hosts to 178-4 at tea.

Dilshan did not last long after the interval, bowled by Hayward for 25 after the addition of just 11 runs.

Jayawardene and keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana steadied the ship with an 85-run stand for the sixth wicket.

But South Africa finished on a high note with Pollock bowling Kaluwitharana for 33 in the second-last over and Upul Chandana falling the same way to Makhaya Ntini on the final ball of the day.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Jacques Rudolph, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward, Nicky Boje.