Twitter Reactions: Ramesh Mendis gets a six-fer but West Indies stay on top
Sri Lanka are trailing by three runs in their second innings with eight wickets in hand.
The second Test in Galle stays pretty much in the balance, although West Indies have the slightest of advantages at the close of play on Day three. Sri Lanka made a stupendous comeback after Ramesh Mendis picked up a six-wicket haul, but they still have plenty of work to do if they wish to evade a loss. The home team is still trailing by three runs with eight wickets left in their second innings.
Mendis steps up
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Bonner put on 75 runs for the second wicket to start the day on a great note for the visitors. Mendis separated the duo, getting rid of Bonner, who made a patient 95-ball 35. Brathwaite went on to score 72 with nine fours before Lasith Embuldeniya accounted for his wicket. From there on, the Caribbean team lost wickets in quick succession.
Shai Hope scored 22 after which Mendis trapped him plumb in front. In the end, Kyle Mayers stayed unbeaten on 36 to make sure that the West Indies amass a significant first innings lead of 49 runs. Apart from Mendis’ six-fer, Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawaickrama got two wickets apiece. Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal toiled hard for nine overs and gave away 22 runs, but couldn’t get a scalp.
West Indies make quick breakthroughs
Having conceded a 49-run lead, the pressure was well and truly on the hosts in their second innings. The pressure showed right from the outset as Dimuth Karunaratne was run out after a horrendous mix up with Pathum Nissanka. Mayers threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end to cut short Karunaratne’s stay in the middle. Oshada Fernando tried to put his head down and get a big score.
However, like the Lankan skipper, even he got run out. Fernando scored 14 runs in a partnership of 32 runs with Nissanka. Thereafter, Charith Asalanka and Nissanka made sure that they play out the remaining 6.3 overs. Nissanka has looked assured in the middle, having scored 21 runs off 53 balls with one four. West Indies used three spinners for the entirety of the 21 overs in the innings.
Here’s how the netizens reacted to the day’s play
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