I've edited the post to include a mini summary graphic! Thanks for the positive feedback though, it's good to receive such good praise so early in a story!
) written update. But seriously, great stuff Dan. I knew this story would be great because of your articles you have written on pc before.
DAY REPORT: Even Day 2 As The Ball Dominates Once More
Day 2 looked set to be the day that would make or break the West Indies Test Match. They began the day on 296/6 with the gun batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul batting with the tail and the hope that they could get the total up to somewhere close to 400. The day didn't start too brightly for the West Indies, as the new ball did the business with some swing for the pacey left armer De Silva. He picked up Jerome Taylor early with one that moved away from Taylor sharply, taking a thick edge which was well caught at 3rd slip by Thilan Samaraweera making the score 313/7.
5 runs later and De Silva struck again, picking up the massive wicket of the settled Shiv Chanderpaul. Chanderpaul had struggled, and although he was trying to up his scoring rate he just couldn't seem to find the middle of the bat, eventually being bowled by De Silva for 34 from 126 balls. A typical dogged innings from Chanderpaul, who would have liked to have seen more support from the likes of Bravo and Ramdin. This left the tail massively exposed, and 10 runs later De Silva had done it again, clean bowling debutant Ravi Rampaul for 5 to take his 4th wicket of the innings.
That then left the scoring to Sulieman Benn who looked good at the crease, hitting a nice boundary off Vaas. Edwards couldn't stick with him though and upon facing his first ball, was instantly undone by the impressive De Silva who took his first 5 wicket haul in Test Cricket with another clean bowled dismissal. De Silva will have pleased the selectors, especially with alot of pundits and fans calling for Ajantha Mendis to be called up, De Silva certainly impressed though, finishing with figures of 5/72 from his 25.1 overs.
This then gave the West Indies a lead of 332, which considering the swing and definite turn looked a par total for the wicket. Sangakkara and Vandort settled into their stride quickly however, and Taylor and Edwards really struggled to get any kind of breakthrough with Vandort and Sangakkara hitting some handy boundaries. At lunch West Indies had still not taken a wicket with Sri Lanka going into the break at 50/0.
After the lunch break Gayle turned to Bravo and Benn and they started very nicely (:P), especially Bravo who bent his back and found some decent pace and swing. This hard work and persistance from Bravo paid off and he finally got West Indies a wicket, picking up the important wicket of Sangakkara. Sangakkara made 30 from 69 balls and was looking settled, so it was a massive breakthrough for the West Indies to get him out relatively early.
Vandort and captain Jayawardene then put on a very handy partnership putting on 51 before the tall spinner Sulieman Benn picked up his first Test wicket. Benn looped one above Vandorts eyeline, who attempted to prod forward and block, the ball turned sufficiently and rapped Vandort on the pads. It was a simple decision for the umpire who gave Vandort out LBW. Vandort went back to the shed having made a very handy 68 off 111 balls.
The wicket of Vandort seemed to open the door, especially for Benn, who 6 runs later picked up another lbw, taking the vital wicket of Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for 28. This left the score at 130/3 which was far improved from the situation at Lunch for the West Indies. The session became a big one for West Indies as they took the 4th wicket of the session, getting young batsman Chamara Silva caught at slip for 10 off 8 balls, with Benn picking up his 3rd.
The wicket of Silva came just before the Tea Break leaving Sri Lanka 151/4 at Tea, with Samaraweera and Dilshan very early into their innings. Soon after Tea saw a possible big moment in the Test match, with Dilshan scooping a catch back to bowler Benn, who managed to put Dilshan down on 9.
Luckily for Benn and for the West Indies the dropped chance didn't cost too many runs, as Benn finally picked Dilshan up. Dilshan prodded forward at a ball that turned out of the early bowler footmarks made by Vaas and De Silva and was sharply caught by Ramdin. Dilshan left the Sri Lankan coaching staff frustrated as another batsman had managed to make a start but then get themselves out, as Dilshan departed for 34 from 48 balls.
With the ball turning and Benn picking up wickets, the captain Gayle decided to throw the ball to the other left-arm spinner in the side Ryan Hinds, and the slight gamble immediately paid off, with Hinds picking up the wicket keeper Jayawardene lbw for 1. This put West Indies in an immensely strong position, and one that was made even stronger 1 over before the end of play. Gayle threw the ball to Dwayne Bravo in the penultimate over, and Bravo provided a wicket once more, picking up the settled batsman once more. Bravo managed to swing the ball into Samaraweera and had him plumb lbw. A huge wicket so close to the end of play, with Samaraweera departing for 68 from 131 deliveries.
The day ended with West Indies firmly on top, leading by 62, with Sri Lanka having only 3 First innings wickets left on what was looking a very bowler friendly pitch. The day ended with Vaas and Kulasekara at the crease, and Sri Lanka 270/7.
Player Of The Day Sujeewa De Silva took his first 5fer in Test Cricket
Day Report: Gayle Scores Big as Windies Dominate
Day 3 was always going to be the big day for the West Indies, they came into the day with a slender lead, needing 3 quick Sri Lankan tail end wickets and then a good batting performance to set up a win. The day started well for West Indies with Vaas going, before Sri Lanka could add another run. It was Bravo once more that provided the breakthrough, taking his 3rd wicket of the innings, and ending a decent little innings from Vaas, with him making a handy 18.
5 runs later and it was Jerome Taylor that got into the action, after going for four off the bat of Kulasekara earlier in the over, Muralitharan was on strike and Taylor did for him with relative ease. Murali played hard at a full swinging delivery and could only get the ball to Devon Smith who was fielding at 2nd slip. Murali departing for a disappointing duck. This then left De Silva with Kulasekara who was going along nicely. Taylor did for him 14 runs into the 10th wicket partnership though, with him edging to Edwards at gully. Sri Lanka bowled all out for 289.
The lead of 43 was taken into the West Indies 2nd innings, and it was left for Gayle and Smith to bat out for an hour before lunch. They did it with consumate ease, with Gayle really playing with some intention, making it to 44 not out at the lunch break. Smith was also playing very well, adding to his good start in the first innings by playing himself to 26* at the break, with the lead stretching to 114.
Soon after the lunch break it was time for Gayle to celebrate, bringing up a relatively fast paced 50, taking a mere 73 balls to bring up his half century. He was soon joined on a half century by opening partner Smith, who was also going along nicely, bringing his 50 up off 105 balls. By this point Gayle was batting with real attacking flair, especially against the spinners, with Muralitharan getting some real treatment from the West Indian captain.
Gayle then had even more to celebrate as he brought up his 2nd hundred of the game, and one that came in very fast time, coming from 154 balls. This meant that Gayle's 2nd fifty came in just 81 balls. It's been a brilliant Test match for Gayle, and a brilliant start to the new era. The West Indian situation was made even better not long after Gayle's hundred, as Devon Smith brought up his hundred soon after tea. Not quite as blistering as the captain's innings, but impressive none the less. Smith's 2nd Test century coming up off 204 balls.
The fantastic partnership was soon broken though, as the aggressive intent led to a run out as the score reached 253/1. Chamara Silva doing the work in the field, showing good awareness and good accuracy to throw down a direct hit on the stumps to run Smith out for a very respectable 107 off 208 balls. This didn't seem to affect the captain though, and if anything made him more detirmined to make the Sri Lankan bowlers pay. Gayle brought up his 150 from 196 balls, meaning his 3rd fifty came up off just 42 balls, an incredible strike rate considering the turning pitch and Muralitharan bowling.
Reverse swing was the key soon after this though, as De Silva found his wicket taking touch once more, dismissing Ramnaresh Sarwan for 24 from 54. Sarwan had played 2nd fiddle to Gayle for most of the innings, before being clean bowled by the nippy left armer. It was the other left armer that did the big damage though, with Vaas finally managing to dismiss Chris Gayle. Gayle going for another big shot, trying to loft the ball over mid on before being caught by Dilshan. Gayle ended his innings after making 187 incredibly important runs, taking just 221 balls to get there.
After Gayle departed the run rate seemed to drop a little as the relatively new men to the crease, Chanderpaul and Hinds just settled in and looked to bat out the day. Chanderpaul finishing the day on 9 not out, with Hinds making 6. West Indies finished the day 336/3 with a massive lead of 379. The player of the day, as with the 1st day was the West Indies captain, who since getting the job from the new selection committee has done nothing but impress.
West Indies in a very good position over night at the end of the 3rd day, and will be hoping that Hinds and Chanderpaul can add more vital runs as we move into the final 2 days of what has been a fantastic start to the Fletcher era.
Player of The Day Chris Gayle celebrates his 2nd Century of the Game
