Sri Lankan sailor Suranga Lakmal has taken five wikis to run through the West Indies midfield order but a fight back led by Rahkeem Cornwall kept the hosts in the driving seat after day two of the first Test.
West Indies were 8-268 at stumps – a first-innings lead of 99 that could already be determined on a scratchy surface that will be harder to score.
Cornwall, who was born in Antigua, did his maiden test half a century and was 60 not out on an excellent stand of 90 who scored for the eighth wicket with the most remote Joshua Da Silva, before the last one out just before closing 46 from 124 balls.
The guests will be hoping to take home their win after winning the toss and sending Sri Lanka to bat.
They eliminated the visitors for 169 within 70 pitches on opening day as sailor Jason Holder took a 5-27 in his first test appearance since being replaced as West Indies captain.
Starting on the second day at 0-13, the West Indies lost regular wickets with Lakmal (5-45) the leading striker with his fourth five-wicket bag in Trials.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at the second slip for three with a ball moved away from the right-hander, and again on the feat to knock off Kyle Mayers on the left in the same way. after the last one put together an elegant 45. .
Lakmal’s ability to move the ball both ways again was perfectly demonstrated as Jermaine Blackwood was inflicted with a swinger for two, before Holder got an inside edge and his stumps were removed. rattled air 19.
When Alzarri Joseph was caught by Dinesh Chandimal at a level trying to drive the top sailor, Lakmal finished his fourth five-wicket draw in Tests and his home side reeling at 7-171.
But the brutal Horn and Da Silva turned full of the test again.
“I know I have good batting skills,” said the Cornwall 196cm. “I tried first to bat with Joshua, see if we can get a good score and just try to beat myself.
“I was confident.
“I’ve been putting some work into the nets with the batting coach and I told myself I need to score a few scratches, I’m not doing as well as I could with the ‘stick. “