KANDY– Rain forced the abandonment of the fourth day of the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the the Pallekele Stadium earlier today.
The adverse weather, which forced players to take an early lunch, returned after the break allowing just 15 balls as West Indies reached 303 for eight.
The session belonged to Sri Lanka, however, as they captured three wickets for 53 runs, including the scalp of the dangerous Brendan Nash for 67.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (4-54) snatched all three wickets to fall, sending the Windies into a slump after they resumed the day at 244 for five.
Nash, starting the day on 62, added just five runs before pulling at an innocuous delivery from Herath and gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off the eighth ball of the day.
Carlton Baugh had made two when he missed a sweep at Herath and was adjudged lbw at 253 for seven and captain Darren Sammy’s dismal run with the bat continued when he was palpably lbw on the back foot for eight.
Sulieman Benn, unbeaten on 26 at the interval, ensured there was no more success for Sri Lanka with a counter-attacking knock.
The gangling six-footer smashed Herath over mid-wicket for the first of his two sixes, before heaving mystery off-spinner Ajantha Mendis over wide long on.
Benn has so far shared 29 for the ninth wicket with Kemar Roach who was unbeaten on 12
Scores: WEST INDIES 303 for eight (Darren Bravo 68, Brendan Nash 67, Devon Smith 55, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 54, Sulieman Benn 29 not out; Rangana Herath 4-54, Ajantha Mendis 2-78) vs SRI LANKA. (CMC)