Dilshan, Chamara star in Lanka’s recovery

End on 217 for 5 after being 117 for 5:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the West Indies

An unbroken sixth wicket partnership between Tillekeratne Dilshan 58 and Chamara Silva 37, helped Sri Lanka recover and make 217 for five on day one of the Second and final Digicel Test against the West Indies here, today.

On a day where there were three stoppages for rain Sri Lanka were tottering at 117 for five when Dilshan and Silva got together to rescue the innings.

Amazingly only 46.3 overs were bowled as 151 minutes of normal playing time was lost.

Dilshan who made his 16th Test 50 had 6 fours and his stand of exactly 100 with Silva came in 100 deliveries. After seeing a grass cover on the wicket the Sri Lankan selectors made a last minute change bringing in paceman Ishara Amerasinghe, leaving out spinner Rangana Herath.

West Indies too went for an all out pace attack, dropping Sulieman Benn and introducing speedster Fidel Edwards and giving birthday boy Sewnarien Chattergoon his first test cap.

It was the consensus here that off spinner Amrit Jaggernauth should have won his first cap too after his amazing success in the Carib Series tournament. But the selectors dropped him and it remains to be seen how the local supporters would react to Jaggernauth’s dropping.

The Sri Lankan selectors were more positive and although they tossed in Amerasinghe and with the Windies likely to bat last, Muttiah Muralitheran could baffle and lure the Windies to their destruction.

Chris Gayle called correctly and asked Sri Lanka in and has Sri Lanka skipper said, he would have had no hesitation in batting if he had won the toss. Openers Michael Vandort and Malinda Warnapura again gave the Sri Lankans and excellent start putting on 61 for the first wicket.

On a wicket that had a grass cover unlike in Guyana where the wicket was bare of grass, Gayle in asking the Lankans in was hoping that his opening bowlers Darren Powell and Jerome Tylor would justify his decision.

They bowled everywhere other than on line and Vandort and Warnapura had no difficulty in coping with them and making runs when the opportunity presented.

Both openers were dropped early in their innings, but proceeded undaunted to add 61, before Edwards replacing Taylor bowled a telling spell where at one stage he had 3 for 14.

First man out was Warnapura, excellently caught at third slip by Chattergoon diving to his left for 35.

Then with the score on 72 Kumar Sangakkara could not take his bat away from a delivery that pitched middle and moved off Edwards to be caught behind by Ramdin for 10. Then Edwards struck again luring Vandort to touch a harmless delivery down the leg side to Ramdin for 30.

Thilan Samaraweera did not last long getting a touch to an outswinger from Taylor to be pouched by Gayle at first slip for 6. Then Taylor bowled the ball of the match. It pitched middle, moved that much to beat the lunging bat of Jayawardena and clip his off stump. That was a big wicket considering that Jayawardena was settling down to play another vital innings for his side.

At 117 for 5, it looked as though it was the beginning of the end of the Lankan innings. It was then that Dilshan and Silva got their act together. When play resumes on day two Dilshan and Silva must keep their feet on the pedal and motor the team to a big score.

Dilshan and Silva who took the fight to the Windies with some audacious strokeplay and aggressive running between the wickets have upset the home team’s strategy.

There must be no letting off and they must make their business to help their team build and imposing score, so that they can transfer the pressure on to the West Indians.

Of the Windies bowlers Jerom Taylor had 2 for 36 and Fidel Edwards 3 for 40.

With the wicket likely to take spin as the game progress, the Windies could regret the leaving out of both spinners Sulieman Benn and Amrit Jaggernauth.

Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Thursday

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS
M. Vandort c Ramdin b Edwards           	30
M. Warnapura c Chattergoon b Edwards    	35
K. Sangakkara c Ramdin b Edwards        	10
M. Jayawardene b Taylor                 	26
T. Samaraweera c Gayle b Taylor          	 6
T. Dilshan c Ramdin b Edwards           	62
C. Silva c Powell b Bravo               	76
C. Vaas c Ramdin b Powell                	 1
T. Thushara run out                      	 1
M. Muralitharan c Bravo b Powell         	 8
I. Amerasinghe not out                   	 0

EXTRAS (lb-8 w-5 nb-10)               	 	23
TOTAL (all out, 64.5 overs)          	 	278

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-62 2-72 3-93 4-112 5-117 6-222 7-224 8-240 9-255.
BOWLING: Powell 17-7-59-2 (w-1), Taylor 17.2-7-74-2 (nb-6),
	 Edwards 18-4-84-4 (nb-3 w-3), Gayle 2-2-0-0, Bravo 10.3-2-53-1 (nb-1 w-1).