GALLE – Roston Chase made the breakthrough for West Indies after openers Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne made hay while the sun shone and led Sri Lanka to 113 for one in their first innings in the second Test on Monday.
Chase, bowling his uncomplicated off-spin, held a return catch to dismiss Karunaratne, the Sri Lanka captain, for 42, missing out on a record-equalling seventh consecutive score of 50 or more in Tests this year.
The Windies could not make any further headway, as Nissanka, unbeaten on 61, and Oshada Fernando, not out on zero, batted through 22 more balls before bad light stopped play on the rain-affected first day of the match at the Galle International Stadium.
Persistent drizzles delayed the start of play for five hours, effectively washing out the first two sessions of the day, before the umpires scheduled 45 overs for the remainder of the day.
Kemar Roach, one of three changes to the West Indies starting line-up, and Jason Holder bowled steadily with the new ball, but failed to make the breakthrough.
Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite then went through the remainder of his bowlers, including left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, another change to the visitors’ line-up, before he got to Chase and reaped success.
West Indies wasted a couple of reviews, challenging an lbw against Nissanka off Holder, and a caught behind with Fernando off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican in the final over of the day.
Roach, a surprising omission in the first Test, replaced fellow pacer Shannon Gabriel and Permaul, making his first Test appearance in six years, took the place of off-spinner Rahmkeem Cornwall.
West Indies other effective changes was Shai Hope, a concussion substitute for opener Jeremy Solozano, holding onto his place in the side.
Sri Lanka made only one change, handing a debut to batting all-rounder Charith Asalanka ahead of pacer Dushmantha Chameera to fortify their batting, and offer another spin bowling option.
The Caribbean side trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, after slumping to a 187-run defeat in the rain-marred first Test.
Summarised scores:
SRI LANKA 113 for one (Pathum Nissanka 61 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 42) vs WEST INDIES.
(AR)
