Lasith and Ramesh send Windies crashing to defeat

Sri Lanka thrashed West Indies by 187 runs in the first cricket Test which ended at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Chasing a target of 348, West Indies were bowled out for 160 before tea on the final day with the two spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (5 for 43) and Ramesh Mendis (4 for 64) leading the way to get this remarkable win to gain full points (12) for the World Test Championship.

However, West Indies low order batters Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, and Rahkeem Cornwall made useful fighting contributions to delay Sri Lanka’s victory but finally, Sri Lanka defeated West Indies as well as rain to seal this win. After the last wicket of Shannon Gabriel who was out caught by first slip Dhananjaya de Silva off the bowling of Lasith Embuldeniya just before it started raining at Galle.

Joshua Da Silva and Nkrumah Bonner put on a seventh wicket stand of 100 runs.

Earlier, the day started with West Indies 56 for six wickets but overnight pair Nkrumah Bonner and wicket keeper Joshua Da Silva were involved in a fighting 100-run partnership to delay Sri Lanka’s victory. Joshua who scored his third half century was the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka ten minutes before lunch with leg spinner Embuldeniya claiming his third wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva taking the catch at first slip to end Joshua’s 54-run innings which included five fours in 129 balls.

However, West Indies collected 73 runs in 35.3 overs during the first session to take their total to 125 for seven wickets with Bonner unbeaten on 42. However there was high drama with LBW appeals, reviews, umpires calls, catches put down and a runout chance went in favour of two batters Joshua and Booner to make a fighting combination during the first session.

After lunch, Bonner and Cornwall tried to make a good stand for the eighth wicket but it was not successful with Praveen Jayawickrama who was introduced to the attack getting the breakthrough to end the 31-run eight wicket stand and Cornwall was back in the pavilion after scoring 13 in 46 balls. Suranga Lakmal took a catch at long off position to dismiss Cornwall who threw away his wicket with an unnecessary stroke at that time.

Sri Lankan spinners made more pressure after Cornwall’s wicket and the last two batsmen Jomel Warrican and Shenon Gabriel were unable to stay long with Embuldeniya striking twice and visitors were all out for 160 to gain the victory by a 187-run margin. The number three batsman Nkrumah Bonner who survived a few times finally made an unbeaten 68 off 220 balls striking seven boundaries but was finally out of partners.

Embuldeniya took his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests and it was Mendis who wrecked the batting order much more, starting with the big wicket of Brathwaite finished with four wickets and West Indies lost 19 of their 20 wickets against the Sri Lanka spin trio Embuldeniya, Mendis, and Jayawickrama. Praveen Jayawickrama was the most successful bowler in the first innings with 4 for 40. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne who was in fine form scoring 147 and 83 in both innings was adjudged man of the match.

The two teams will play their second Test at the same venue (Galle) which will commence on November 29 (Monday).