Dilshan leads Sri Lanka rally |
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Friday April 4, 05:42 AM
By Simon Evans
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) - Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva added exactly 100 for the sixth wicket to boost Sri Lanka to 217 for five at the close of the first day of the second test against West Indies on Thursday.
After fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor had reduced the Sri Lankans to 117 for five, Dilshan (58 not out) and Silva (37 not out) posted their century stand from just 101 balls.
Only 46.3 overs were possible on a rain-interrupted day after Chris Gayle had won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat.
An aggressive Edwards, giving one of his best displays at test level, claimed the wickets of Malinda Warnapura (35) and Kumar Sangakkara (10) to reduce Sri Lanka to 89 for two at lunch.
Two lengthy rain delays meant that only 12.2 overs were bowled in the afternoon session but that was enough for West Indies to claim three victims, including Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene (26) for only 50 runs.
Overcast conditions helped provide Edwards and Taylor with some swing but both also extracted some movement off the seam as they produced a rare spell of old-school Caribbean pace bowling.
Opener Michael Vandort went in the third over after lunch for 30 after his attempt to flick an Edwards delivery down to fine-leg was caught by the agile wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
After a 70-minute rain delay, Taylor claimed his 50th test wicket when he had Thilan Samaraweera (6) caught by Gayle at first slip from a poor stroke.
The lively Taylor struck again for the precious wicket of Jayawardene, who had scored a fine 136 in Sri Lanka's first test victory.
Jayawardene looked bemused that Taylor's superb delivery, which cut away off the seam, managed to beat his defences and flick the top of his off-stump.
But, with the momentum firmly with the home side, the rain then returned and another hour before tea was lost.
At the close Dilshan, ably supported by Silva, had struck seven boundaries against a tiring West Indies' attack.
Edwards, who took five wickets against Sri Lanka on his test debut in Jamaica in 2003, blamed the wet conditions for his team's disappointing final session.
"The ball stopped swinging and was wet and heavy -- I think it helped them more than it helped us," said Edwards who remained confident the innings could be finished off promptly on Friday.
"We have to be a bit more patient, keep the runs down but get them out as quick as possible," he added.
Friday's play will begin 30 minutes earlier than scheduled at 9.30 a.m.
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