NORTH SOUND, Antigua, GDP – The diligent West Indies faced long, arduous labor on the third day today after struggling to find success on a lifeless field, leaving the second decisive Test ready at the end the second day here yesterday.
Earlier Captain Kraigg Brathwaite had completed his first century as a full-time captain when he struck out 126 while Rahkeem Cornwall hit his second consecutive half-century with a daring 73, to drive the West Indies to 354 all out on the lunch stroke at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
But Sri Lanka countered the disciplined bowling effort of Windies on a track that was conducive for batting, to march to 136 for three in the end, 218 runs left.
Opener Lahiru Thirimanne scored at the top with 55 while veteran Dinesh Chandimal scored unbeaten at 34 and partner Dhananjaya de Silva at 23.
The home team’s hopes were raised when they claimed Oshada Fernando (18) and Tirimanne in the space of 35 deliveries just after tea, but Chandimal and Dhananjaya set up a fourth straight 59 run wicket-stick to block West Indies.
Chandimal has so far faced 80 balls and counted five fours while Dhananjaya’s stay lasted 95 deliveries and included one boundary.
Former captain and world leader Jason Holder said patience would be key for West Indies bowlers on the third day.
“It’s been quite a docile wicket so far. We have to find ways to motivate ourselves, ”he said afterwards.
“It’s a very good effort by the bowlers so far. It’s not a wicket I think you can go and blast people out – it’s a pretty good batting wicket.
“At the end of the day you have to be really, really patient. It’s pretty much equal right now – we have two dedicated batters at the top right now. ”
Earlier the West Indies had ventured into the morning session courtesy of an eighth wicket of 103 wickets between Brathwaite and Cornwall.
Starting from their 287 overnight at seven, the West Indies kept Sri Lankans’ wicket less in the first hour, avoiding any early falls in the pub consolidation.
Brathwaite, who was forced to sleep overnight at 99, released his tension when his ninth Test hundred off the second ball of the opening hit over with a single leg controller to fine Suranga Lakmal, the best bowler with four for 94.
All told, the right wing faced 311 deliveries in just over 8-½ hours and hit 13 four.
Meanwhile, Cornwall, at 43 initially, picked up his fifty in the third over of the day with four stripes behind a point off Lakmal.
At 68 on the first drinks break, the burly brave airman died in the second over following the restart, sheltering Lakmal from outside off to Vishwa Fernando midway after hitting 10 fours and sixes in an entertaining 92- hill. ball that lasted and shaded over 2-½ hours.
Brathwaite and Kemar Roach (9) then foiled Sri Lanka for another three-quarters of an hour before sailor Dushmantha Chameera claimed the last two wickets to end the pubs quickly.
The right-hander, who finished with three for 69, pulled Roach at nine to give wicket keeper Niroshan Dickwella his fifth catch of the fly-half, before getting Brathwaite to cut back a matching delivery.
Starting their pubs after lunch, Sri Lanka lost their captain Dimuth Karunaratne for one to fatigue in a groove by Nkrumah Bonner, to extend his poor run in the series.
The left-wing floundered with a wide ball from fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and tumbled into the cordon where Bonner took an absolutely stunning one-handed catch, diving off to his right in the groove, 40 minutes after lunch.
Thirimanne, who hit six fours off 106 deliveries, then gave 46 for the second wicket with Fernando, a partnership that saw Sri Lanka secure to tea at 60 for one.
However, West Indies struck in the second over afterwards with four runs added, when midfielder Kyle Mayers won a lbw decision against Fernando.
And Roach followed a few beats later when he punched Thirimanne’s drive and bowled off the inside edge, to leave Sri Lanka at 77 for three.
The West Indies closest to a wicket came off the penultimate delivery of the day when DRS was required to acquire Dhananjaya, having swum while delivering the Cornish leg side off the spinner and almost gifted his wicket .
