NORTH SOUND – World No.1 all-rounder Jason Holder grabbed two crucial wickets with the second new ball and West Indies were making headway against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Antigua, before rain curtailed play.
Holder took two for 40 from 21 overs and fellow pacer Alzarri Joseph snared two for 64 from 22 overs, and the Sri Lankans reached 250 for eight at the close, replying to West Indies first innings total of 354, on the rain-marred third day of the match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
West Indies, however, once again found rookie Pathum Nissanka, a century-maker on debut in the first Test last week at the same venue, difficult to dislodge and he will carry the hopes of shortening the lead of the hosts into the penultimate day, having reached 49 not out.
Only 42.1 overs were possible in a little under four hours of play on the day, which suffered four interruptions from the weather, the last of which about five minutes after the regularly scheduled close forced the end of play.
It was still enough of an opportunity for the Windies to make headway, after the Sri Lankans resumed from their overnight total of 136 for three.
Either side of a 10-minute stoppage for rain in the morning period, Shannon Gabriel gave West Indies an early breakthrough and part-timer Jermaine Blackwood tightened their grip.
Gabriel watched in horror, when Rahkeem Cornwall put down Dinesh Chandimal, on 34, in the first over of the day, but he rejoiced five overs later, when the same batsman was caught at deep square leg for 44, miscuing an ill-advised hook.
Blackwood, bowling his uncomplicated off-spin, had Dhananjaya de Silva lbw for 39, playing across a well-flighted delivery, but he was fortunate the batsman did not contest umpire Joel Wilson’s decision because TV ball-tracking technology subsequently suggested the ball was heading down the leg-side and missing the stumps.
When play resumed after lunch following a delay of an hour and 35 minutes, Holder struck in the fifth over with the second new ball, when he had left-hander Niroshan Dickwella caught behind for 21, after the Windies successfully review Wilson’s decision.
Joseph had Suranga Lakmal caught at short mid-wicket for six, miscuing a whip, three overs later, and only seven more balls were possible before another shower forced the players off the field for an early tea with Sri Lanka 217 for seven.
Holder found the outside edge of Dushmantha Chameera’s bat to have him caught behind for two in the fifth over on resumption a little more than two hours later, but there was a period of resistance from Nissanka and Lasith Embuldeniya, not out on zero, before another shower ended play.
Match officials indicated that play starts half-hour earlier than regularly scheduled on the final two days.
The two-match series is level 0-0, after the first Test ended in a draw last Thursday at the same venue.
The team that wins the match will hold the Garfield Sobers-Michael Tissera Trophy, symbol of Test supremacy between the two sides, which the Sri Lankans have held since its inception six years ago.
Summarised scores:
WEST INDIES 354 (Kraigg Brathwaite 126, Rahkeem Cornwall 73, Kyle Mayers 49, Jason Holder 30, Alzarri Joseph 29, Jermaine Blackwood 18; Suranga Lakmal 4-94, Dushmanth Chameera 3-69).
SRI LANKA 250 for eight (Lahiru Thirimanne 55, Pathum Nissanka 49 not out, Dinesh Chandimal 44, Dhananjaya de Silva 39, Niroshan Dickwella 21, Oshada Fernando 18; Jason Holder 2-40, Alzarri Joseph 2-64).
(AR)
