Sangakkara and Davies flay Glamorgan

Surrey 363 for 3 (Sangakkara 112*, Davies 109*, Burns 50) v Glamorgan
Scorecard

A sizeable crowd had turned up at The Swalec Stadium to see Kevin Pietersen's return to first-class cricket in his bid to regain his place in England's Test team, but instead they were treated to fine hundreds from Kumar Sangakkara and Steven Davies.

Pietersen, playing his first County Championship for two years, was at the crease for just 37 minutes as he made 19 before edging Craig Meschede to slip. The remainder of the first day's play belonged to Sangakkara, who was making his debut for Surrey and from his first ball, appeared determined to celebrate the occasion with a big score.

Coming to the crease on the back of four consecutive centuries in the World Cup and 45 in the game Sri Lanka were eliminated, he played every ball on its merit and was soon piercing the off side with some trademark strokes. He reached fifty from 83 balls, and went on score a century that had felt inevitable from 162 deliveries which included a six and 14 fours.

After Pietersen's dismissal, ending a brief partnership which provided more than 41,000 international runs at the crease, Sangakarra was well supported by Davies with the left-handed combination sharing an unbroken partnership of 213 for the fourth wicket. Davies, one of four wicketkeepers in the Surrey team also appeared in prime form and shortly before the close reached his century from 154 balls with fifteen boundaries.

Earlier, Gareth Batty had won the toss and had no hesitation of batting on a placid pitch that gave the Glamorgan bowlers no assistance whatsoever. Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns launched the innings with an opening partnership of 104, before Burns was caught behind off Graham Wagg shortly before lunch.

Ansari departed after the interval, and Pietersen did not stay for long, but thereafter there was no respite for the Glamorgan attack as Sangakkara held centre stage.

Meschede obviously enjoys bowling at famous batsmen - his first victim in first-class cricket was Sachin Tendulkar, and the Somerset allrounder, who is on a season's loan to Glamorgan was overjoyed at another notable scalp.

"It's nice to get a big scalp under my name but my first first-class wicket was Sachin Tendulkar - so I'd have to say he is my number two!'' Meschede said. "It was nice to get him with a nibbly one on a flattish wicket.

"He was getting quite agitated and tried to move across, but I kept my same line and it worked. But he likes to play in an attacking way and it has worked for him in the past. He's a fantastic player and he had a lot to prove today but I'm sure he'll bounce back."