SOUND NORTH, Antigua, CMC – Kyle Mayers won his first Test wickets when he produced two critical strikes in so many polls to break a dangerous, century-old stand, as he pulled the West Indies back into the opening Test after half a century by Oshada Fernando and Lahiru Thirimanne threatened put Sri Lanka in this ascent yesterday.
With Sri Lanka cruising at 170 for one, half an hour after tea to eliminate their first 102-run pub deficit, newly appointed captain Kraigg Brathwaite summoned Mayers, and Fernando moved for 91 with his first delivery of a brisk medium pace before veteran Dinesh Chandimal accounted for four in his next fight.
Experienced sailor Kemar Roach added Thirimanne’s wicket for 76 a few yards later as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 19 runs in the space of 45 deliveries, before Dhananjaya de Silva stroked 46 not out and Pathum Nissanka, 21 unbeaten , to see Sri Lanka to the end at 255 for four.
Mayers finished with two for 10 of four overs while Roach chipped in two for 28, leaving West Indies dragging just 153 runs heading into today’s crucial fourth day at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
“I’m happy to get my first Test wicket.” Mayers said afterwards.
“I like being in the game – I’m that kind of person. I like to win games for my side, so bowling, batting, field – any part of cricket at all I can play to win the game for my side, I’ll do that. ”
He added: “I think the wicket is a good one – it’s nicely balanced. Obviously they had the upper hand today but the game is still average. We’re still in the game. ”
Sri Lanka needed only two overs to wrap up West Indies pubs at 271 after the home team resumed the morning at 268 for eight, left-arm controller Vishwa Fernando (2-52) bowling Rahkeem Cornwall for 60 and then hit Shannon Gabriel ahead of him scoreless, four balls apart in his first match.
With a healthy lead, West Indies pressed their advantage when Roach induced a fake strike by captain Dimuth Karunaratne and had the left-hand man caught on the third slip by John Campbell for three in the fifth over.
However, Oshada Fernando and Tirimanne then combined to block the West Indies in a 162 run second wicket stand, which steered Sri Lanka safely to lunch at 67 for one and then retained the guests’ wicket in the second session.
The partnership was Sri Lanka’s highest for the second wicket against the West Indies and also the highest for the wicket at the venue.
Fernando, a right-hander, scored consistently, carving 11 fours off 149 deliveries to complete his second half-century Test in his eighth Test.
Meanwhile, the Thirimanne left-hander hit four off 201 balls to net his second half-century of the match and the eighth of his 39th Test career. Fernando survived a chance on 16, about 25 minutes before lunch, when former captain Jason Holder missed a simple opportunity as the keeper left cornerback Rahkeem Cornwall.
Unbeaten at 34 at lunchtime, his fifties arrived about half an hour later with a single to cover Cornwall while Thirimanne, at 28 at break, reared his landmark in the fourth over after the drinks broke with a single leg to square off Brathwaite’s casual All-spin.
At 148 for one in tea, Sri Lanka became increasingly dominant before Mayers delivered the tide.
With his first ball, the Mayers right-footed Fernando to rush outside off and forfeited a catch to wicket keeper Joshua Da Silva and followed that by drawing Chandimal in the same fashion as the fifth ball of his next over.
Roach then brought one back to beat Thirimanne’s drive and bowled comprehensively as Sri Lanka dropped to 189 for four approaching the first hour after the break.
However, Dhananjaya countered with five fours in a 74-ball beat, netting an invaluable 66 in a fifth consecutive wicket-stick with Nissanka, to control the final hour.