The 2nd Test between the West Indies and Sri Lanka began today (29) at Galle International Stadium, Galle.
on a day in which rain washed out the first two sessions, Charith Asalanka has been handed his debut cap for Sri Lanka. West Indies have made two changes with Permaul and Roach replacing Cornwall and Gabriel.
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka – Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal(w), Ramesh Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama
West Indies – Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Shai Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva(w), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Veerasammy Permaul, Jomel Warrican
After washed out the first two sessions, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat first against West Indies in the 2nd Test match of the 2-match series.
The Sri Lankan openers started the innings with confidence and got off to a strong start as the West Indies did not have much support from the wicket.
Roach and Holder bowled six overs but Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka hit the ball with great control.
Nissanka and Dimuth got off to a successful start with 106 runs Opening Partnership for Sri Lanka. Nissanka was the attacker and he put every bad ball away even the three spinners could not stop him. Nissanka got to fifty – his third in Tests, and second in the series – off the 74th ball he faced.
Although it seemed that Sri Lanka would leave with an innocent day, Roston Chase did not allow it. After scoring a century and a half in the first Test, Karunaratne was dismissed for 42 in this Match. Roston Chase dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne on caught by his own bowling.
If he had got to fifty, Karunaratne would have made seven Test half-centuries in as many innings, a feat only six batters had accomplished. In any case, his last seven scores read 42, 83, 147, 66, 118, 244 and 75.
West Indies also lost a couple of reviews as well as the wicket didn’t offer any semblance of a chance to the bowlers. There is rain predicted on all remaining four days and both the teams will have that on the back of their minds while trying to come up with any strategy.
Sri Lanka 113 for 1 (Nissanka 61*, Karunaratne 42, Chase 1-33) vs West Indies