West Indies dominated proceedings on Day 2 of the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Tuesday before rain played spoilsport and brought and early end to play. West Indies were 69/1 at stumps after bowling Sri Lanka out for 204 in their first innings.
Veerasammy Permaul’s five-wicket haul put Sri Lanka in trouble with the West Indies batting openers already chasing down the hosts’ lead by stumpson day two of the second Test in Galle on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka had started the day with 113 for 1 on the board and had Pathum Nissanka (73) looking in good touch. Oshada Fernando and Pethum Nissanka played out some nervy moments but settled in having batted for six overs in the day. West Indies were in desperate need of a wicket to the score past 130 when Warrican got the breakthrough. There was no real partnership of substance from there on as Sri Lanka nosedived to allow West Indies back in the game.
Pethum Nissanka fell in the 49th over lbw to Permaul in the 49th over of 1st inning. Since Than Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka fell to the next two – both towards Permal – and Dinesh Chandimal (2), Ramesh Mendis (5), Suranga Lakmal (12) and Lasith Embuldeniya (1) failed to stick around. Angelo Mathews kept one end and tried to form a partnership but Angelo Mathews was forced to retire hurt and Sri Lanka continued to struggle to cross the 200-run mark. He returned to the crease hit consecutive sixes from Mathews took the side past 200.
Permaul’s first long-format match in six years helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 204 on the second day with a career-best 5-35. The West Indies’ decision to play two left-arm spin specialists proved a masterstroke against a side heavy with right-handed batters.
Permaul and fellow left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who claimed 4-50, cut through the Sri Lankan order on a wicket with plenty of turn and bounce.
It was the fourth time in history that West Indies spinners claimed all 10 wickets in an innings. Off-spinner Roston Chase had claimed captain Dimuth Karunaratne on day one with Sri Lanka resuming overnight on 113.
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood stood more resolute against Sri Lanka’s spin attack, which had demolished the tourists’ top order in their 187-run first Test loss.
Blackwood left on 44 when Praveen Jayawickrama trapped him leg before, ending a stand of 62.
Brief scores: West Indies 69 for 1 (Blackwood 44, Brathwaite 22*, Bonner 1*, Jayawickrama 1-11) trail Sri Lanka 204 (Nissanka 73, Karunaratne 42, Permaul 5-35, Warrican 4-50) by 135 runs