West Indies collapse against spin trio

Rex Clementine
in Galle

The strategy of piling up runs in the first innings and then tie down the opposition with spin has been a ploy that has worked in Galle for Sri Lanka for ages and the blueprint helped them seize the initiative in the first Test against West Indies yesterday as they reduced the tourists to 113 for six in reply to first innings total of 386 all out. West Indies trail by 273 runs and need 74 more to avoid follow on.

It is unlikely that Sri Lanka will enforce the follow on if they bowl out West Indies cheaply. They would not want to bat last on this wicket and more importantly give some breathing space for their bowlers to rest their feet and then would got for the kill.

After the quicks failed to make early inroads, the two left-arm spinners were on and Lasith Embuldeniya provided the breakthrough when he trapped Jermaine Blackwood leg before wicket after the openers had added 46 runs.

Praveen Jayawickrama then was on the act as Nrumah Bonner gloved one to Dhananjaya de Silva at slip.

Ramesh Mendis came on only in the 32nd over and he dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite who was caught at leg-slip by Pathum Nissanka. The West Indies skipper had looked solid posting 41 runs with seven fours. He had successfully overturned a decision and was set to go on before Mendis removed him in his last ball of the first over.

Oshada Fernando then pulled off two good catches at short leg to give Mendis three wickets in the innings. Among his victims were Shai Hope, who came in as concussion substitute for Jeremy Solozano. On debut, the Trinidad batsman was rushed to hospital after a full-blooded pull shot from Dimuth Karunaratne hit him on the grille of the helmet and he collapsed to the ground.

Solozano was out of danger but was having concussion and was discharged from hospital 24 hours after being admitted.

West Indies lost four wickets for 20 runs as the middle order collapsed against the spin trio.

Sri Lanka did well to post 386 in their first innings. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who had posted his 13th Test hundred on day one went onto make 147 before being smartly stumped by Joshua da Silva off the bowling of Roston Chase. The all-rounder finished with five wickets.

Shannon Gabriel showed lot of heart and claimed two wickets. One of his victims was Dhananjaya de Silva who had batted beautifully for his 61 but was dismissed in bizarre fashion; hit wicket. He had defended a delivery and realizing the ball could bounce back and disturb the stumps attempted to swat it away, but ended up smashing his stumps.

It’s been a good start in the Test match for Sri Lanka and they would be looking to secure the 14 points on offer in the World Test Championship.