Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal put Sri Lanka in control against West Indies
Thursday 15 October 2015 16:59, UK
Centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal put Sri Lanka in firm command of the first Test against West Indies in Galle.
The pair took their third-wicket partnership to 238 as Sri Lanka posted a first-innings total of 484 on the second day.
The hosts had seemed set for a bigger total before losing their last six wickets for 59 runs, but a double strike from Rangana Herath reasserted their authority as West Indies closed on 66 for two in reply.
Karunaratne (186) and Chandimal (151) continued to dominate after Sri Lanka resumed on 250 for two.
Karunaratne looked in little trouble as he added 51 to his overnight score before lobbing a simple return catch to Marlon Samuels 14 short of a first Test double century.
Chandimal, dropped on 11 on day one, had more fortune as he was spilled again on 82 by Jermaine Blackwood but took advantage of the reprieve.
He added a further 86 with captain Angelo Mathews (48) before the tourists finally started to make some serious inroads just before tea.
Chandimal was caught at cover off the bowling of Jerome Taylor, who removed Milinda Siriwardana in his next over.
Mathews was caught and bowled first ball after tea and then, aside from a little resistance from Kusal Perera (23), Sri Lanka collapsed with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finishing with four for 143.
The quick end to the innings might have lifted West Indies' spirits but Herath soon reminded them of the huge task still facing them just to save the game.
The left-arm spinner, introduced in just the sixth over, removed openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope to leave the West Indies trailing by 418 with eight wickets in hand at stumps.
