Sri Lanka’s top-order batting held agency to make sure a draw and a drawn sequence in opposition to the West Indies on the final day of the second and closing Take a look at on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday. Set the daunting goal of 377 and resuming at 29 with out loss, the vacationers reached 193 for 2 with a tops core of 75 by captain Dimuth Karunaratne and an unbeaten 66 by Oshada Fernando main the resistance. After managing simply 16 runs in three earlier innings, Karunaratne’s twenty fifth Take a look at half-century spanned over 4 hours.
He confronted 176 deliveries and struck 9 fours earlier than being trapped lbw by seam bowling all-rounder Kyle Mayers simply earlier than the tip of the post-lunch interval.
“I’m actually comfortable the way in which we performed on this sequence, particularly the bowlers and significantly Suranga (Lakmal),” mentioned Karunaratne in paying tribute to the person of the sequence for his 11 wickets within the two matches.
“We have to enhance on our batting although, particularly in constructing partnerships. That is a priority for me going ahead.”
Karunaratne placed on 101 for the primary wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne who battled by means of to the afternoon interval earlier than he finally fell for 39, edging a full supply from quick bowler Alzarri Joseph for Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip.
Thirimanne ended the sequence with a tally of 240 runs, essentially the most on both facet and placing him three runs forward of the main West Indian, captain and fellow opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite.
“None of our gamers ever gave up. Everybody tried actually, actually laborious all through,” mentioned Brathwaite reflecting on 10 days of Take a look at cricket and particularly the ultimate day of the sequence after they struggled for any efficiency on a placid floor.
“We’re on track and as soon as we preserve that self-discipline and dedication we can be a staff to reckon with.”
Brathwaite’s innings of 126 and 85 made him the plain alternative as man of the match.
Whereas the house skipper exhausted each bowling choice accessible to him, Fernando ensured there was to be no late stumble within the closing session in partnership with former captain Dinesh Chandimal.
In addition to he performed although in almost three hours on the crease, Fernando once more appeared susceptible to the mild swing bowling of Mayers.
Dismissed in his earlier two innings by the Barbadian, he wanted the good thing about tv replay know-how and a profitable DRS referral to have a leg-before verdict in opposition to him off Mayers overturned.
Sri Lanka’s activity was made simpler by the absence of Shannon Gabriel for many of the afternoon.
West Indies’ quickest bowler left the sector in his sixth over with what seemed to be a hamstring harm.
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That harm would have solely worsened Gabriel’s temper after he noticed wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva spill a leg-side catch provided by Thirimanne firstly of the day when the opener was simply on 17.
Early-morning rain delayed the beginning of play by simply over an hour, successfully ending any distant hope the Sri Lankans would have entertained of launching a run-chase.
