by HAYDN GILL in Guyana

CHANCES, half-chances and near misses typified West Indies' day here yesterday.

And after spending close to 11 hours in the field, they suffered an early stutter at the end of the second day of the opening Digicel Test against Sri Lanka at the Guyana National Stadium.

There would have been a sense of frustration for the hosts when they toiled over the first two sessions in which Sri Lanka solidly extended their overnight 269 for four to 476 for eight declared.

In that period, there were two identifiable chances, a few more that just dropped short of fielders, and a few others that flew between fielders.

Nothing went right. It was that kind of day. And what followed after a surprising Sri Lanka declaration at 3:50 p.m. was inevitable to some.

Chris Gayle, his problems against Chaminda Vaas well documented, once more failed to negotiate the world-class left-arm swing bowler.

The West Indies captain survived the first over in which he looked at ease, but he didn't get past the second, falling lbw in an attempt to push forward to one that straightened on him.

It was the fifth time in ten innings that Sri Lanka have claimed him for a duck in Test cricket and the seventh time that Vaas had dislodged him. Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan then survived the remaining 50 minutes with a few anxious moments.

There was some encouragement for them at the beginning of the day when they claimed a wicket inside the first half-hour, but it was one of only two they managed in the period leading up to tea.

Sri Lanka's solid, if not spectacular progress was built on captain Mahela Jayawardene's 22nd Test century that was a typically classy effort that stretched a shade over six hours.

Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in Test cricket reached his hundred half-hour before tea and featured in two vital partnerships that left West Indies disappointed.

Jayawardene was one of those who benefited from a near miss when a ball went to the side of Gayle at slip when he was on 39 and in the middle of a sixth-wicket partnership of 54 with the unrelated Prasanna Jayawardene.

When Daren Powell effected the breakthrough in the first over after lunch with the second new ball that was belatedly taken after 120 overs, it left Sri Lanka 331 for six and West Indies contemplating thoughts of limiting the total to under 400.

Instead, a chance to Devon Smith at third-slip that was put down when Chaminda Vaas was only four proved costly. The left-handed No. 8 has often chipped in with useful runs in the lower order and he made the most of his good fortune to battle way for a 14th Test half-century and helped Jayawardene in adding 126 for the seventh wicket.

The next obvious chance went to Jayawardene when he was on 126, a diving attempt to Dwayne Bravo at short fine leg.

Jayawardene's fine effort ended half-hour after tea after facing 233 balls and stroking 13 fours. It was ended by what appeared to be an umpiring error from Billy Bodwen who gave the batsman lbw after an attempted reverse sweep that came off the glove.

Ryan Hinds' strained right hamstring sustained on the previous day, kept him off the field for the entire second day.

Scoreboard:

SRI LANKA 1st Innings

(overnight 269-4)

M. Vandort lbw b Taylor 52

M. Warnapura c wk Ramdin b Bravo 120

K. Sangakkara c Smith b Taylor 50

*M. Jayawardene lbw b Gayle 136

T. Samaraweera c sub (Dowlin) b Taylor 0

T. Dilshan lbw b Taylor 20

+P. Jayawardene b Powell 21

C. Vaas not out 54

T. Thushara c sub (Dowlin) b Gayle 0

R. Herath not out 13

Extras (lb7, w1, nb2) 10

TOTAL (8 wkts dec'd – 162 overs) 476

Fall of wickets: 1-130, 2-205, 3-243, 4-243, 5-277, 6-331, 7-457, 8-459.

Did not bat: M. Muralitharan.

Bowling: Powell 29-3-89-1, Taylor 33-8-110-4, Gayle 27-4-66-2, Bravo 30-3-74-1 (w1, nb2), Benn 40-6-120-0, Hinds 3-0-10-0.

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

*C. Gayle lbw b Vaas 0

D. Smith not out 8

R. Sarwan not out 21

Extras 0

TOTAL (1 wkt – 16 overs) 29

Fall of wicket: 1-4.

To bat: M. Samuels, S. Chanderpaul, R. Hinds, D. Bravo, +D. Ramdin, S. Benn, J. Taylor, D. Powell.

Bowling: Vaas 5-2-10-1, Thushara 4-2-2-0, Dilshan 1-0-2-0, Muralitharan 3-0-10-0, Herath 3-1-5-0.

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

Match referee: Chris Broad (England).