Sri Lankan Openers Set Fair After Follow-On Enforced

Sri Lankan Openers Set Fair After Follow-On Enforced

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana both finished unbeaten on 44 as Sri Lanka started their second innings strongly

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (SRI LANKA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

West Indies 580-9 dec. (Gayle 333, Mendis 6-169) v
Sri Lanka 378 (Sangakkara 73, M Jayawardene 59) & 89-0
First Test, Galle, day four
Scorecard

Sri Lankan openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan were both unbeaten on 44 when rain and bad light ended day four of the first Test against the West Indies in Galle as the home side made a solid start to their second innings having been asked to follow on.

Replying to the West Indies' first innings of 580 for nine declared, in which Chris Gayle scored 333, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 378, just failing to make the West indies bat again and after the follow-on was enforced, they closed the day on 89 without loss.

Half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene (59), Thilan Samaraweera (52) and Prasanna Jayawardene (58) looked to steering Sri Lanka towards safety before the West Indies hit back.

Kemar Roach had Mahela Jayawardene caught by Carlton Baugh as he edged a wide delivery before Dwayne Bravo deflected a straight drive onto the stumps of Samaraweera.

Off-spinner Shane Shillingford then returned four for 123 by dismissing Angelo Mathews (27), Suraj Randiv (12), Dammika Prasad (47) and finally Prasanna Jayawardene, who holed out to Roach in the deep to be the last man out.

Prasad hit six fours and two sixes in an enterprising 46-ball innings before he was caught by Andre Russell while Ajantha Mendis looped Roach to Darren Bravo at point.

Sri Lanka then batted steadily in their second innings, Paranavitana and Dilshan both playing measured cricket and both scoring four boundaries as the West Indies failed to make a breakthrough.

Just as it did on day three, the rain then arrived to end play early.

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