SRI LANKA TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2018

Sri Lanka crumble to concede massive lead

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 64 runs in the second session. © AFP

A 78-run stand between Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella gave Sri Lanka hope, one that was washed away on either side of the lunch break as Sri Lanka's innings crumbled within 56 overs. The wicket of Chandimal, who threw all his hard work away by going for an ill-advised cut off Gabriel, was the beginning of a collapse. Reduced to 121 for 5 going into the break, Sri Lanka could only add 64 for their last five wickets, being bowled out for 185. Windies decided against enforcing the follow-on, heading into Tea armed with a 229-run lead.

Early in the second session, Sri Lanka were left six down as Dickwella's lazy running between the wickets caused his downfall. Rangana Herath was late into a pull, giving Miguel Cummins the first of his three wickets, while Dilruwan Perera was caught at bat-pad off Devendra Bishoo. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara scored a few boundaries but their efforts did little to improve Sri Lanka's dwindling stocks as Cummins cleaned up the tail.

The day didn't begin on a good note for Sri Lanka as they lost Roshen Silva early, with the batsman beaten for pace by a Kemar Roach delivery. After that it was all about resistance as Chandimal and Dickwella pulled a leaf out of Shane Dowrich's book. Playing close to the body and shouldering arms to plenty of deliveries, the batsmen were focussed on keeping the West Indian bowlers at bay.

There was some movement for the pacemen who also generated good bounce but the batsmen showed enough application to handle the challenges thrown at them. But they were also willing to play the shots to anything that they felt was in their zone. Both Chandimal and Dickwella played straight and used the pace of the bowlers while not trying anything lavish as far as their stroke-play was concerned.

The boundaries came at a regular frequency towards the end of the session, with both Chandimal and Dickwella targeting Roach and looked set to see Sri Lanka through to Lunch without any damage. However, the re-introduction of Shannon Gabriel for the final over of the session gave Windies what they were looking for. It was a wicket against the run of play as Chandimal, looking to cut a back-of-length delivery outside off, failed to clear Roston Chase at point to depart for 44.

With 94 runs in the first session in 26 overs at more than three and a half an over, it was good going for Sri Lanka but the wicket of the captain just before Lunch was the trigger point for Sri Lanka's capitulation.

Brief scores: Windies 414/8 decl. lead Sri Lanka 185 (Dinesh Chandimal 44, Niroshan Dickwella 31; Miguel Cummins 3-39, Kemar Roach 2-34, Shannon Gabriel 2-48) by 229 runs.

© Cricbuzz

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