KANDY, Sri Lanka, 23 July 2005 — Chaminda Vaas hit back with 4-17 to leave West Indies on 92-5 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 150 all out at the close of the first day of the second Test yesterday.
Vaas shook off flu to claim the wickets of Xavier Marshall (4), Runako Morton (1), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (13) and Sylvester Joseph (18) either side of the tea interval.
At the close West Indies trailed by 58 runs with Narsingh Deonarine unbeaten on 36 and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin on eight not out. Sri Lanka won the first Test in Colombo by six wickets. Jamaican fast bowler Daren Powell had starred for the tourists earlier on Friday, taking a career-best 5-25 as Sri Lanka were bowled out in just 46.1 overs, justifying his team’s decision to bowl first on a dry, grassless pitch.
Powell bowled two lively bursts either side of lunch and was well supported by Tino Best, the first change support seamer, who finished with three for 50 from 10 fiery overs.
The only substantial resistance from the hosts came from Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) and Thilan Samaraweera (37) who fought back after their team had slumped to 42 for four. The fifth-wicket pair added 56 in 76 balls before Best grabbed back the initiative in the last over before lunch with an athletic chase-and-throw off his own bowling to run out Dilshan with a direct hit.
In the first hour, opener Sanath Jayasuriya had survived an early scare when hit on the arm guard just above his gloves but went soon after for two when he was dubiously adjudged to have been caught behind off Powell.
Kumar Sangakkara had only himself to blame for his dismissal 16 minutes later after being brilliantly caught by Runako Morton at second slip after a wild slash outside his off stump. Captain Marvan Atapattu made 17 when Best, replacing Jermaine Lawson after a five-over burst with the new ball, bowled him with a first delivery that swung back through the gate to hit off stump.
Sri Lanka slipped to 42 for four when Best found the outside edge of Mahela Jayawardene (6) and Runako Morton held on to a regulation catch at third slip.
Dilshan, though, counter-attacked for the hosts, stroking a series of stylish boundaries and plundering Best for 15 in one over before his last-over dismissal before lunch.
After the interval Chaminda Vaas miscued an attempted pull off Best before a slow 20-run partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and all rounder Gayan Wijekoon (14).
