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West Indies 414 for 8 (Dowrich 125*, Kumara 4-95) and 131 for 4 (Powell 64*, Kumara 2-28) lead Sri Lanka 185 (Chandimal 44, Cummins 3-39, Roach 2-34) by 360 runs
Port of Spain: The Windies bossed the third day of the first Test, bowling out Sri Lanka for 185 before rejecting the follow-on and inflicting further damage with 131/4 to take their lead to 360 runs at stumps on Friday, June 8.
Windies had posted 414/8 in their first innings before Sri Lanka slipped to 31/3 heading into day three – a day the hosts would also end in high spirits.
Only two Windies batsmen were dismissed for less than 38 in their first innings, but Sri Lanka did not find the conditions as comfortable.
Early on the day, Kemar Roach angled one down the leg-side, which flicked off the pad of Roshen Silva, whose feet were rooted to the crease, before castling into the Sri Lankan’s stumps.
Captain Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella then batted watchfully, quashing some feisty short-pitched bowling on a fast pitch. However, the former, who had made a 121-ball 44, was removed by Shannon Gabriel, with the West Indies quick extracting fierce bounce off a length, as Chandimal gifted a simple grab to point on the stroke of lunch.
Shortly after the break, Dickwella (31) had a moment to forget. He pushed a run to mid-on, which evaded bowler Devendra Bishoo, as the Sri Lankan called for an easy single.
At 140/6, it was a needless wicket that had exposed the tail. Rangana Herath came and went – he mistimed a pull-shot, which was gifted to square-leg, to give Miguel Cummins his first wicket.
Bishoo then made it 156/8 when he got Dilruwan Perera caught at short leg. Two wickets left, 258 behind, no recognised batsmen left – things were looking bleak for the tourists.
Bishoo turned catcher to dismiss Suranga Lakmal off the bowling of Cummins, before the West Indies quick (3/39) also removed Lahiru Kumara to wrap up the innings, with Sri Lanka posting just 185 from 55.4 overs.
In reply, the host finish 131 for 4 at stumps on third day.
Hope wasn’t, though. A rising Kumara delivery – he was mightily impressive – flew off his edge to Kusal Mendis at second slip, who took an outrageous diving catch to make it 75/3. That brought Roston Chase to the crease, who dropped anchor, as Powell continued to flourish, bringing up his fifty from just 59 balls, with West Indies on 99.
