WI on top in rain-curtailed Test
Galle, Nov. 17: The West Indies took two early wickets to put Sri Lanka under pressure in the opening Test despite half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene on Wednesday.
Skipper Sangakkara hit an impressive 73, while Jayawardene was unbeaten with a solid 51 as Sri Lanka reached 165-3 in their first innings in reply to West Indies’ 580-9 declared before the third day’s play was called off due to rain. Thilan Samaraweera was the other not-out batsman on 11 as only 4.1 overs were bowled in the afternoon session.
The West Indies bowled well in the overcast conditions, taking two wickets through paceman Kemar Roach and Dwayne Bravo in the morning session to put Sri Lanka on the back foot. Roach dismissed opener Tharanga Paranavitana (10) and Bravo bowled Sangakkara as the hosts added 94 to their overnight total of 54-1 for the loss of two wickets in the two-hour session.
Sangakkara batted confidently during his 102-ball knock before being yorked by Bravo, hitting 11 fours in his 34th Test half-century. He put on 71 for the third wicket with Jayawardene. The West Indies struck in the day’s third over when Roach bowled Paranavitana with a delivery that cut in sharply to surprise the batsman.
Paranavitana fell at his overnight score of 10, but Sangakkara continued to defy the West Indies attack as he drove debutant paceman Andre Russell through the covers and then edged past slips for two fours in an over. The Sri Lankan captain, 33 overnight, completed his half-century when he turned Roach to square-leg for three runs. His fifty came off just 45 balls with the help of nine boundaries.
Former skipper Jayawardene looked solid during his 91-ball knock, reaching his 37th Test half-century when he flicked Roach through mid-wicket for a four after lunch. He has so far hit five boundaries. Roach, Dwayne Bravo and Russell each have bagged one wicket.
The West Indies owed their big total to left-handed opener Chris Gayle, who smashed a career-best 333 on Tuesday for his second triple-century in Tests. He became the first West Indies batsman to hit a triple-century in an away Test.
Scores: West Indies 580/9 decl. vs Sri Lanka 165/3 (Sangakkara 73, Jayawardene batting 51, Samaraweera batting 11, Bravo 1/18).
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