Rain the only saviour for West Indies?

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

RAIN seemed the only saviour for West Indies as Sri Lanka led by the indefatigable Chaminda Vaas took a vice like grip on the first cricket Test at the SSC grounds yesterday.

On a rain-shortened third day when play was possible for only 106 minutes West Indies resuming their second innings at 17-3 fell further into the quagmire slipping to 59 for six before the weather gods decided to put an end to their misery at 3.23 p.m.

The umpires waited for an hour or so before officially abandoning play for the day with persistent rain falling. West Indies made 285 in their first innings and Sri Lanka replied with 227.

The whole morning's play was washed out and when play began under overcast skies at 1.10 p.m., Vaas was quickly into his stride. He continued from where he left off on Thursday by making further inroads into the West Indies batting line up.

Vaas trapped Narasingh Deonarine (7) and Dwayne Smith (0) leg before wicket with swinging deliveries to improve his figures to four wickets for 12 runs off 12 overs.

A 27-minute break for bad light disturbed the concentration of young Denesh Ramdin who had been batting well for almost an hour with his captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He became the ninth West Indian wicket to fall to an lbw decision when Muralitharan trapped him in front of the wicket for 11.

Ramdin's dismissal ended a 27-run liaison with Chanderpaul who looked to be the main stumbling block Sri Lanka will have to overcome if they are to wrap up this Test by today, weather permitting.

The West Indian captain once again showed his capabilities to revel in back to the wall situations by remaining unbeaten on 29 made in 112 minutes inclusive of a six and a four. Batting with him is Omari Banks, another batsman capable of holding up his end.

West Indies are ahead by 117 runs with four wickets in hand and two full day's of play remaining.

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS 285 
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 227 

WEST INDIES 2ND INNINGS
Overnight 17-3) 

S.C. Joseph c Jayawardene b Muralitharan	02
J.M. Marshall lbw b Vaas           		02 
R.S. Morton lbw b Vaas           		00 
N. Deonarine lbw b Vaas           		07 
S. Chanderpaul not out           		29 
D.R. Smith lbw b Vaas           		00 
D. Ramdin lbw b Muralitharan           		11 
O.A.C. Banks not out      			00 
Extras (b-8) 					08 
TOTAL (6 wkts at close, 35.3 overs, 156 mins) 	59
 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3 (Marshall), 2-3 (Morton), 3-15 (Joseph),
4-21 (Deonarine), 5-21 (Smith), 6-48 (Ramdin).

BOWLING: 
Vaas 12-4-12-4, Malinga 6-4-2-0, Muralitharan 11.3-6-17-2,
Jayasuriya 6-1-20-0.