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GEORGETOWN—Ramnaresh
Sarwan missed out on a century as West Indies were left
battling to save the follow-on at the close on the third
day of the first Digicel Test against Sri Lanka at the Guyana
National Stadium yesterday.
Sarwan, playing in his first Test since last May, batted
responsibly for 80 but the most of his fellow batsmen disappointed
and West Indies ended the day on 269 for nine in response
to Sri Lanka’s 476 for eight declared.
The hosts, who had to thank their lower order from engineering
a recovery, still need another eight runs to make Sri Lanka
bat again with the last wicket pair of Jerome Taylor and
Daren Powell at the crease.
Sarwan propped up a brittle West Indies top and middle order
with a measured innings that lasted 262 minutes in which
time he faced 199 balls and struck five fours.
Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan each took three wickets but Sri Lanka’s
progress was held up by the West Indies lower half that
included contributions of 37 from the injured Ryan Hinds,
38 by Denesh Ramdin, 28 by debutant Sulieman Benn and an
unbeaten 22 by Jerome Taylor.
West Indies, resuming on 29 for one, had a disappointing
first session in which they lost three wickets in adding
78.
Opener Devon Smith (14) and Marlon Samuels (5) fell to loose
strokes that were edged to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene
off left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara who was playing
his first Test since 2003.
The experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul also fell to a disappointing
stroke for 23, giving a catch to short mid-off against Muralitharan.
Dwayne Bravo survived a chance just before lunch when Mahela
Jayawardene, at slip, gave him a let-off from the bowling
of Muralitharan, but the same bowler removed him lbw soon
after the break to leave West Indies in big trouble at 109
for five.
Hinds, batting with a runner because of a right hamstring
strain he sustained on the first day, helped Sarwan add
53 for the sixth wicket and played without much bother to
occupy the crease for 97 minutes, facing 104 balls and striking
five fours.
Sarwan, who was 57 at lunch, continued to bat soundly but
slowed in the half-hour period leading up to his dismissal.
Attempting to drive left-arm fast bowler Chamida Vaas, Sarwan
edged into the gloves of wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene
who took the catch on the second attempt while standing
up to the bowler.
West Indies went to tea at 186 for six, but things looked
bleak soon after the interval when Hinds edged a catch to
the keeper off Muralitharan.
All the while, Ramdin was affected by back pain that required
treatment on the field from physiotherapist C.J. Clark but
he continued to hang in before edging a drive off Vaas to
first slip in the first over of a new spell from the bowler.
Ramdin’s 38 off 74 balls occupied 97 minutes and he
put on 43 with Benn, whose 28 off 52 balls included the
first six of the match which was hoisted over long-on off
left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
When Benn was run out with a direct throw from Tillakeratne
Dilshan at cover to bowler’s end, West Indies were
still 25 away from avoiding the follow-on but Taylor and
Powell survived the final half-hour to offer the home team
a chance of making Sri Lanka bat again.
Taylor will resume the fourth day on 22 in the company of
Powell who is on six.
Muralitharan, who had a long spell from the Media Centre
end, took three for 104 from 38 overs, while Vaas picked
up three for 45 in 22 overs. (CMC)
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