'You catch me, I catch you' - Joshua da Silva evens it out with Dhananjaya de Silva in Galle

The Test series between Sri Lanka and West Indies witnessed an interesting player versus player battle between Sri Lanka all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva.

Interestingly, da Silva was caught by de Silva at the first slip off Lasith Embuldeniya for 54 in the first Test in Galle. Da Silva’s half-century could not evade his team’s defeat, but he led a brilliant rearguard action alongside Nkumrah Bonner, surviving 269 balls while adding 100 for the seventh wicket partnership after Sri Lankan spinners had spun a web to reduce the visitors to a dismal 18/6.

Meanwhile, in the second fixture at the same venue, the catching episode came to a full circle when da Silva grabbed de Silva off Veerasammy Permaul to send him back cheaply. Moments before the event unfolded, the stump mic caught da Silva making a hilarious remark, as he warned his Sri Lankan counterpart: “You catch me, I catch you – that’s how it works in cricket.” Da Silva, meanwhile, was unable to grasp the ball at the first attempt but did well to juggle it once before completing the catch to turn his warning true.

“This series has been pretty interesting. It’s been a kind of a contest between de Silva and da Silva. That’s very interesting – da Silva is the West Indian; de Silva is the Sri Lankan,” the on-air commentator observed. “Da Silva returning the favour.”

As for the proceedings, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 204 in the first innings, with Permaul doing the most damage with his maiden fifer. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite’s 72 alongside handy contributions from Jermaine Blackwood (44), Bonner (35) and Kyle Mayers (36) meant West Indies gained a crucial 49-run lead in the face of Ramesh Mendis six-fer (6/70). At stumps on Day 3, Sri Lanka were only three behind, however, both Dimuth Karunaratne and No. 3 Oshada Fernando gifted their wickets as run-outs.

West Indies have never won a Test in these shores, having played the first time in 1993. Currently, hosts Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0, after winning the first Test by 187 runs.

"You catch me, I catch you – that's how it works in cricket" – @joshuadasilva08 😂

After being caught by (Dhananjaya) de Silva in the first Test, (Joshua) Da Silva promised revenge – and he got it! #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/GqkKR4NM3U

— 🏏FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) November 30, 2021