Sri Lanka build imposing lead

Wednesday March 26, 01:28 AM

MIAMI (Reuters) - Sri Lanka reached 186 for five after bowling out West Indies for 280 on the fourth day of the first test in Georgetown, Guyana on Tuesday.

Opener Malinda Warnapura, who scored a maiden test century in the first innings, top scored with 62 from 91 deliveries with five boundaries.

Thilan Samaraweera reached tea on 26 and Chaminda Vaas was unbeaten on 10 as Sri Lanka extended their lead to 382 runs with four sessions remaining in the game.

Sri Lanka's batsmen raised the tempo in their second innings with Warnapura and Michael Vandort starting the innings with a brisk 43-run opening stand.

West Indies did take one wicket before lunch as Vandort was well-caught down the leg-side for 24 by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin off part-time spinner Chris Gayle.

Kumar Sangakkara (21), trying to push along the scoring rate, departed shortly after lunch as he tried to clip a slower delivery from Dwayne Bravo through the leg-side and was caught at mid off from a leading edge.

The breakthrough ended a 51-run stand for the second wicket.

Warnapura perished as he chased a wide delivery from Bravo.

Mahela Jayawardene kept the scoreboard ticking along with 33 from 38 balls before being surprised by some extra bounce from left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn and was caught at mid-wicket.

West Indies grabbed their fourth wicket of the middle session when Jerome Taylor, West Indies' best bowler in the first innings, trapped Tillakaratne Dilshan lbw.

Earlier, West Indies, who started the day on 269 for nine, managed to avoid the follow on before Thilan Thushara had last-man Darren Powell caught at slip.

Thushara finished with three for 59. Chaminda Vaas claimed three for 48 and Muttiah Muralitharan finished with three for 112.

Email this article to your friend

More Cricket News

Dalmiya arrested, released on bail
Team India fall apart in the heat
Two early wickets will put us back in the hunt: Harbhajan
Proteas land body blows
Sri Lanka claim first test win in Caribbean
New Zealand searching for top order stability
Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 121 runs
West Indies v Sri Lanka scoreboard - close
England show signs of improvement
Vaas rocks West Indies on final day