The West Indies started with promising progress, but if they do not continue Sri Lanka is in the lead
Lon Sri Lanka 359 for 5 (Nissanka 74 *, Dickwella 38 *) and 169 lead West Indies 271 (Corn 61, Lakmal 5-47) with 257 runs
A morning session that had begun in a nightmare fashion, with the loss of the Dhananjaya De Silva set, ended with Sri Lanka in a near dream country while the Numanka and Niroshan Dickwella Pathum pair dug deep to regain control of the game. The pair’s unbeaten 100-run stand in a fast-paced 147 delivery – an advanced level in terms of the game – lifted a ball of the 153-run lead at the start of the day to a much more impressive 257 .
But in many ways the equation for the teams has not changed much. Starting on the fourth day there would hardly have been clearer announcements for both sets of players. For the West Indies, the goal would be to pick up the two wickets needed to reveal Sri Lanka’s long tail. For Sri Lanka, the plan would have been to get as many runs as possible, but more importantly to put as much value on their wickets.
So far, both sides have taken a journey in achieving what they set out to do; Sri Lanka have collected a run but will only feel comfortable once a lead breaks the 300 mark, while the West Indies are aware of the real potential. there to fall if they can break this partnership.
They were the first to draw the guests ’blood, as surprisingly Alzarri Joseph got the first crack with the new ball ahead of Kemar Roach. Joseph, however, paid off the faith shown by Kraigg Brathwaite in it, taking away the danger of Silva, who had lifted his eighth try fifty just a few balls in advance with a right flick behind a square foot for four.
After being offered a few 130kph-ish fighters, de Silva found himself torn apart by a breaker hitting 143kph, unable to connect with the effort he made when the ball bangs into the stumps off the face plate.
At that point, the lead stood at 157, and Joseph and Roach were full of energy, clearly feeling another fall around the corner. Looking back though, it may have been this urgency to pick up another wicket that gave Sri Lanka more of a step.
While much of the previous day was explained by the Sri Lankan bat getting over the lines and lengths of the home team archers, this morning saw the same lines and lengths with a much more relaxed delivery. 104 will run in the session in 25 years at 4.16, telling a story. While not a coincidence this increase in scoring rate occurred at the same time as Dickwella reached the crease.
While his engines were still somewhat conservative to Dickwella’s usual standards, there were glimpses of what he’s capable of in the 63-ball 38. Two rear bouts away from Joseph – the first passing through side of his leg, the next square with care stood outside, albeit a nonchalant uppercut over a packing cord that will give the home team more concern; if that Dickwella comes out to play, the West Indies would be better off keeping an eye on him.
At the other end, Nissanka was benefiting from a growing home run for a break – as well as a discount on the pitch for the batsmen’s favor. After hitting just one finish last night, he pulled out four more in the morning – no doubt preferring the dab down to the back point fence to take his fifty, 21st Sri Lankan lead up to perform the task the first time. 74 has not been defeated – if he reaches his first Test, he will also have gone a long way to gaining a side effect.