by HAYDN GILL in Guyana

THE final day of the first Digicel Test will present West Indies with a test of skill, character and resolve.

It is a position which they have been in many a time, but sad to say, they have often failed the exam.

More often than not, they have started promisingly, as was the case yesterday evening, but time and again, they have failed to handle pressure situations.

Sri Lanka have set them an imposing 437 to win. In reality, however, they gave them a minimum 113 overs to negotiate on a Guyana National Stadium pitch that hasn't changed much in character over the last few days.

There was an encouraging start to the innings, provided by an unlikely source in an unfamiliar position.

Dwayne Bravo, opening the batting in place of Chris Gayle in a move that baffled almost everyone, is a player rich on confidence in everything he does and he responded to the situation in a typically positive manner.

Aggressive at the start and cautious as the close drew near, Bravo, at the top of the order for the first time in a Test match, ended the day unbeaten on 46.

He was in the company of Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was just as effective in closing out the day on 34 with West Indies enjoying the near two-hour period to finish on 96 for one.

The lone casualty was Devon Smith for his second failure of the match, victim of a top-edged hook that was brilliantly caught by the diving Thilan Thushara running in from long-leg.

It was the second time in succession that Smith perished from an indiscreet stroke, prompting some to question his place for the second Test.

West Indies did well to get through the 23 overs without much alarm, but this is a position from which world leading Test wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan has won several matches for Sri Lanka and also one in which the hosts have many times fallen away.

One of the burning questions coach John Dyson has to answer was the decision for Gayle, who has opened the batting in 118 of his previous 125 Test innings, to move down the order.

"Chris felt that it was a good chance to just have a change in this innings. He feels that Bravo is a very positive player.

"The thought of having a right-hand, left-hand opening combination in this innings was something worth thinking about," Dyson said.

"Chris discussed it with me and the vice-captain and we said 'If you think that's the way to go we'll support you' and it has turned out to be a very good decision."

Some argued that Gayle might have been trying to avoid Chaminda Vaas who has dismissed him seven times in ten innings in which he has bagged five ducks.

West Indies did have the satisfaction of avoiding the follow-on at the start of the day when Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell extended their last-wicket partnership to 28.

Even so, after being dismissed for 280 to concede a lead of 196, West Indies were still behind the eight-ball.

Sri Lanka used the next four hours to build on their lead, batting without little bother in steadily building their advantage.

In-form Malinda Warnapura followed up his maiden Test century in the first innings with a half-century (62 off 91 balls) that gave Sri Lanka the impetus that was needed.

Thilan Samaraweera, who missed out in the first innings, came to the party this time with 56 off 89 balls and there were useful contributions from captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara and opener Michael Vandort that had the score moving along at four runs an over.

Debutant left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who deserved a wicket in his first bowl in Test cricket, finally earned his overdue reward, picking up three wickets.

SCOREBOARD:

SRI LANKA 1st Innings 476-8 dec.

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

(overnight 269-9)

J. Taylor not out 27

D. Powell c M. Jayawardene b Thushara 12

Extras (lb4, nb4) 8

TOTAL (all out – 111.5 overs) 280

Bowling: Vaas 25-7-48-3, Thushara 20.5-3-59-3, Dilshan 1-0-2-0, Muralitharan 40-6-112-3 (nb2), Herath 25-6-55-0 (nb2).

SRI LANKA 2nd Innings

M. Vandort c wk Ramdin b Gayle 24

M. Warnapura c wk Ramdin b Bravo 62

K. Sangakkara c sub (Edwards) b Bravo 21

*M. Jayawardene c Chanderpaul b Benn 33

T. Samaraweera not out 56

T. Dilshan lbw b Taylor 4

C. Vaas c wk Ramdin b Benn 13

T. Thushara c Taylor b Benn 14

+P. Jayawardene not out 5

Extras (b2, lb1, nb5) 8

TOTAL (7 wkts – 57 overs) 240

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-94, 3-133, 4-159, 5-171, 6-192, 7-224.

Bowling: Powell 9-0-33-0, Taylor 8-0-37-1, Bravo 14-0-54-2 (nb1), Benn 13-0-59-3, Gayle 13-1-54-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings

D. Smith c Thushara b Vaas 10

D. Bravo not out 46

R. Sarwan not out 34

Extras (b5, nb1) 6

TOTAL (1 wkt – 23 overs) 96

Fall of wicket: 1-22.

Bowling: Vaas 6-2-23-1, Thushara 4-1-31-0 (nb1), Herath 7-1-19-0, Muralitharan 6-1-18-0.

Position: West Indies need another 341 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia), Billy Bowden (New Zealand); TV replays: Clyde Duncan (Guyana); fourth official: Goaland Greaves (St Vincent).

Match referee: Chris Broad (England).