Lahiru Thirimanne hit another fifty to put Sri Lanka firmly in the contest on Day 2 of the second Test after West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s century helped his team to a strong first-innings total on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka reached stumps at 136/3 trailing by 218 after bowling the West Indies out for 354 earlier in the day. The visitors will be expected to reduce the deficit further when they resume on Wednesday with Dinesh Chandimal (34) and Dhananjaya de Silva (23) returning to the crease at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite completed his century and number nine batsman Rahkeem Cornwall made 73 as the home side added 67 runs to their overnight total before being bowled out at lunch.
Opener Brathwaite had been patient as he accumulated 99 unbeaten runs on Monday, after the Windies had been put into bat by the visitors.
But he did not have to wait long, needing just two balls on day two to bring up his ninth test century, tucking a loose delivery down leg.
Giant spinner Cornwall then reached his 50 but ran out of patience when he lofted one to mid-off to hand Suranga Lakmal a fourth wicket and end a 103-run partnership with his skipper.
Brathwaite was the last wicket to fall, unable to carry his bat, as he dragged one on and was bowled by Dushmantha Chameera for 126.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the ninth over to a stunning one handed catch at third slip by Nkrumah Bonner off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling.
Oshada Fernando went soon after tea when he was trapped leg before wicket for 18 and Thirimanne got an inside edge to Kemar Roach and played onto his wicket for 55, just when he looked set for a big score.
