Lankan bowlers restrict West Indies to 165-5

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium

Two wickets in one over, that of Brendon Nash and Darren Bravo by off spinner Tillekeratne Dilshan turned the complexion of the game and the West Indies replying to Sri Lanka’s 387 for nine declared were 165 for 5 when bad light ended play 52 minutes after tea on the third day of the Second Test at the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. As the Test now stands, and with rain and bad light playing spoil sports, unless the unforeseen happens, this Test too will go down in the books as another ’also played’ Test match. The only moment to savour was when debutant paceman Suranga Lakmal captured his first wicket that of Sri Lanka’s First Test tormentor, Chris Gayle.

Gayle was threatening with a 30 ball 30 with 7 fours, when Lakmal tempted the ‘man mountain’ with a bouncer. Gayle fell for the bait, and holed out to Angelo Mathews at square leg and did not the young fast man celebrate. He will always treasure that wicket and the moment.

With Gayle missing out, it fell to another promising and exciting south paw Darren Bravo to provide the sparkle. He played a dashing innings lofting 3 sixes and hitting 5 fours and when a century was his for the asking, a sudden rush of blood saw him lash out at Dilshan to be brilliantly taken by a diving Rangana Herath in the covers for 80.

Play on the third day began in bright sunshine and on schedule and the Sri Lankans added a further 93 runs losing four wickets before declaring at 387 for nine made in 115.2 overs allowing the Windies 15 tense minutes of batting.

In that time Sri Lanka captured the vital wicket of opener Adrian Barath who was trapped in front by Nuwan Kulasekera for 3 with the score on 7. Lunch was taken at that score.

When Sri Lanka continued their innings Kumar Sangakkara who made a very responsible 150 was first out after adding a further 15 runs to his overnight score of 135. He attempted a drive got an edge and Chris Gayle took a fine diving catch at first slip off the hard working Roach.

Sangakkara will always remember this three figure score because he becomes the first century maker on this new look ground. He made his runs with some lovely well timed drives, particularly square of the wicket and gave muscle to the batting. He had 18 fours and a six in a 403 minute innings.

Sri Lanka then lost the wickets of Prasanna Jayawardena 34 with 5 fours, Nuwan Kulasekera 17 and Ajantha Mendis 2 with Rangana Herath playing aggressively to remain unbeaten on 24 in 34 deliveries when Sangakkara applied the closure.

Kemar Roach who bowled his heart out had his second five wicket haul in Tests and finished with 5 for 100 in 28.2 overs with 5 maidens. He would have had better figures had the fielders supported him with more purpose.

SRI LANKA
1ST INNINGS
(overnight 294-5)
T. Paranavitana c Dwayne Bravo b Roach		16
T. Dilshan b Roach				 4
K. Sangakkara c Gayle b Sammy			150
M. Jayawardene b Sammy				 2
T. Samaraweera c Shillingford b Dwayne Bravo	80
A. Mathews c Baugh b Roach			25
P. Jayawardene b Benn				34
N. Kulasekara c Dwayne Bravo b Roach		17
R. Herath not out				24
A. Mendis b Roach				 2
Extras (b5, lb11, nb3, w14)			33
Total (for nine wickets decl;
 115.2 overs)					387
Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Dilshan), 2-31 (Paranavitana), 3-34 (M. Jayawardene), 4-204 (Samaraweera), 
5-273 (Mathews), 6-325 (Sangakkara), 7-349 (P. Jayawardene), 8-383 (Kulasekara), 9-387 (Mendis).
Bowling: Roach 28.2-5-100-5 (nb1, w7), Sammy 35-7-80-2 (nb1), Dwayne Bravo 18-5-61-1 (w7), 
Benn 19-4-57-1, Shillingford 15-0-73-0 (nb1).

WEST INDIES
1ST INNINGS
C. Gayle c Mathews b Lakmal	30
A. Barath lbw b Kulasekara	3
Darren Bravo c Herath b Dilshan	80
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Mendis	8 
B. Nash lbw b Dilshan		29
Dwayne Bravo not out		1
C. Baugh not out		4
Extras (lb3, nb7)		10
Total (for five wickets;
 45 overs)			165
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Barath), 2-51 (Gayle), 3-77 (Chanderpaul), 4-160 (Nash), 5-161 (Darren Bravo).
Bowling: Mendis 7-0-30-1 (nb2), Lakmal 11-0-67-1 (nb5), Kulasekara 7-4-10-1, 
Herath 15-3-50-0, Mathews 3-2-1-0, Dilshan 2-0-4-2.