Tillakaratne Dilshan became the first player to take advantage of cricket's new trial laws and successfully challenge an on-field umpire's decision Thursday.

The Sri Lanka batsman was initially given out by Mark Benson, the umpire, who adjudged him to be caught behind off a Zaheer Khan delivery on the second day of the first Test against India. In the past, a batsman would have had no choice but to accept the umpire's verdict, but new laws being trialled in this match allow teams to refer on-field decisions to a third umpire under a challenge system.

Dilshan made a "T" signal with his hands to indicate a challenge, and Rudi Koertzen, the third umpire, reviewed replays and ruled Dilshan not out.

Earlier, during the morning session, Anil Kumble, the India captain, made the first-ever challenge when an appeal for lbw against Malinda Warnapura, the Sri Lanka opener, was turned down, but he was unsuccessful in changing the original call. Koertzen upheld the on-field umpire's decision, adjudging that the ball would have missed leg stump.

This Test marks the beginning of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) experimentation with the challenge system. In addition to the existing use of the third umpire to rule on run outs and stumpings, players will now be able to challenge lbw verdicts and catches.

Each side is allowed three challenges in each innings and the number of challenges remains intact if a decision is overturned using the system.

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