NORTH SOUND – Kemar Roach struck twice, and West Indies kept up the pressure on Sri Lanka before tea in the first Test.
Roach has been the Windies’ most successful bowler with two for 39 from 12 overs, and the Sri Lankans, sent in to bat, were 129 for five in their first innings at the break on the first day of the Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Lahiru Thirimanne was unbeaten on 56 and Niroshan Dickwella was not out on 21 for the visitors and have put on 37 – unbroken – for the sixth wicket for the most productive stand of the innings.
Roach struck either side of the afternoon drinks break to remove Dhananjaya de Silva and Test newcomer Pathum Nissanka, after Sri Lanka continued from their lunchtime total of 54 for three.
The Windies pacer bowled de Silva for 13, when the batsman played across a delivery that nipped back, and he had Nissanka caught at second slip for nine, groping at a delivery outside the off-stump four overs later to send the Sri Lankans tumbling to 92 for five
But the hosts met defiance, when Dickwella came to the crease and with Thirimanne batted through the remainder of the period to carry the visitors past the 100 mark and add a bit of respectability to their total.
Summarised scores:
SRI LANKA 129 for five (Lahiru Thirimanne 56 not out, Niroshan Dickwella 21 not out, Dhananjaya 13, Dimuth Karunaratne 12; Kemar Roach 2-39) vs WEST INDIES.
(AR)
