Sri Lanka v West Indies 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Rain plays spoilsport in Windies’ pursuit of 244

Sri Lanka v West Indies 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Rain plays spoilsport in Windies’ pursuit of 244: The part-timer, Kraigg Brathwaite, had a memorable day with the ball as he claimed figures of 11.3-4-29-6 to run through Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order however Milinda Siriwardana and Angelo Mathews batted well to set the visitors a target of 244.

Just 5 overs into the day, Silva was the first to go for 32 after he nicked one off Warrican to Blackwood at first slip. Chandimal was found wanting off the first ball of the next over. Taylor got one to nip in at pace and the inside edge got Ramdin to complete a spectacular catch flying to his left.

The home side were pushed ahead by a busy 67-run partnership between Siriwardana and Mathews. Siriwardana’s attacking instincts got him some wonderful boundaries past covers. He hammered Warrican over midwicket and to the cow corner for a four and six, and Bishoo straight down the ground for another maximum. The partnership was broken by Brathwaite when got one to spin away from the left-hander. The edge flew once again to Blackwood who took a fine catch at slip. Kusal Perera was dismissed on the first ball of the 60th over which turned out to be the last one before lunch. Looking to cut the off-spinner he got a bottom edge and Ramdin did the rest behind the stumps.

Herath swung his way to 18 off 26 balls before becoming Brathwaite’s 3rd wicket. Dilruwan Perera smashed a six only to be dismissed in the same over. Trying to go for another maximum he holed out at deep midwicket. The West Indian vice-captain got his maiden Test five-for when Mathews’ failed attempt at a reverse-slip landed in the safe hands of Blackwood. He got his 6th wicket off the next ball with Pradeep edging one to slip; once again Blackwood took a brilliant catch low to his right.

The West Indian openers faced a tough task in negotiating the new ball. Hope survived a huge appeal for LBW when Prasad in the 5th over of the innings stuck him on the back foot. The original not out decision was reviewed by Mathews and the tracker showed that the ball would have just clipped the top of middle stump so the Umpire’s call saved Hope. Brathwaite’s struggle with the bat continued. He was out LBW for 3 by a Prasad in-swinger. This turned out to be the piece of action as heavy rain abandoned play for the day. With the pitch already playing tricks, something that was evident from the spells of their own spinners, the West Indian batsmen will need to bat out of their skins to force a positive result for their team. West Indian fans will hope for a Lara-like special innings from Darren Bravo and a fluent knock from Marlon Samuels to win it for the Caribbean Islanders.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 1st Innings – 200/10 (M Siriwardana 68; J Warrican 67/4)

West Indies 1st Innings – 163/10 (K Brathwaite 47; D Prasad 34/4)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings – 206/10 (A Mathews 46; K Brathwaite 29/6)

West Indies 2nd Innings (Target 244) – 20/1 (S Hope 17*; D Prasad 4/1)