Sri Lankan seamers wrest back advantage after controversy mars third day
Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the contest on the third day of the second Test against the Wndies, though the day will be remembered more for the controversy which marred its start.
The raw facts so far are that before the start of play, umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar inspected the ball and adjudged that “the condition of the ball had been unfairly changed” – as states Law 41.3.4 – by Sri Lanka, and as such awarded West Indies five penalty runs and allowed them to choose a replacement ball. At this point, Sri Lanka refused to take the field, and after a period of waiting, much discussion and much confusion – Sri Lanka at one point taking the field before walking off again – play finally got underway. If there are any Code of Conduct charges, these will follow.
The delay was made even more dispiriting by the fact that when play did resume, a gripping contest ensued, with Sri Lanka claiming the day’s honours. It was the seamers who did the damage for the tourists, forcing a collapse of 59/6 with the new ball as the Windies slipped from 241/4 to 300 all out. That the home side went from a position from where they could have established dominance, and that it was partly their own doing, should be cause for concern.
The first dismissal, however, was unavoidable, Shai Hope edging a short ball which seamed away to first slip. Sri Lanka’s short-ball attack in what was left in the morning session was sustained, skilful, and aggressive.
Devon Smith, who top-scored for the West Indies with 61, was also beaten by a good delivery, though had he been more decisive in getting forward he may well have stopped Akila Dananjaya’s arm ball from striking his pad. Nevertheless, there were encouraging signs for the 36-year-old, playing his second Test since his recall.
Thereafter followed what threatened to be the game’s defining partnership, as Roston Chase, who has become one of the Windies’ most reliable batsmen, and Shane Dowrich, who came into the game of the back of a superb century in the first Test, added 78, and looked untroubled in doing so. The new ball was taken with Sri Lanka just 14 ahead, and it felt a last throw of the dice – negotiate it, and a match-winning lead was the Wndies’ for the taking.
Instead, Sri Lanka got some luck, as Chase clipped lazily to short mid-wicket, the most egregious of the day’s dismissals, and the floodgates opened. Dowrich reached his fifty but was next to go, victim of some new-ball magic from Suranga Lakmal – in-between length, slight away movement, edge taken to the keeper, gorgeous – and the tail followed him as a fired-up Sri Lanka smelled blood. Devendra Bishoo’s loose drive gave away one wicket, Jason Holder was defeated by extra bounce, Kemar Roach was pinned in front by a yorker, and Shannon Gabriel top-edged a bouncer for Dhananjaya de Silva to take a splendid catch running back.
It was a display of proper fast bowling that we have come to associate neither with Sri Lanka, nor with pitches in the Caribbean, and as much as Sri Lanka will be encouraged by this performance – if 21-year-old Lahiru Kumara can stay fit he could be a mainstay for years to come, while Kasun Rajitha was mighty impressive on debut – the groundstaff deserve credit for a pitch that offered just enough help to the seamers throughout.
It also encouraged shot-making to those willing to play them, as shown by Kusal Perera, who got Sri Lanka’s second innings off to a flier, plundering 10 runs off the first over as he threw his bat. The Wndies were rattled and started to lose their heads and their lines, and had he remained until stumps, an hour of him in the morning could have taken the game away.
Instead, Gabriel ended his innings at a what-might-have-been 20 off 23 with an excellent delivery, good line and length, nipping away. Eight more treacherous balls followed, nightwatchman Rajitha requiring treatment after being struck on the leg and Miguel Cummins almost dismissing debutant Mahela Udawatte twice in two balls, the first as an edge flew past gully, and the second as a reviewed LBW shout was revealed to have pitched just outside leg.
The Windies will start the fourth day marginally ahead, with Sri Lanka a wicket down and trailing by 13 runs, and it may well be a cracking Test match.