Sri Lanka’s top-order batting gained strength to ensure a draw and a draw series against the West Indies on the final day of the second and final Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday. Set a challenging target of 377 and restarted at 29 with no loss, the tourists reached 193 with the highest score of 75 by captain Dimuth Karunaratne scoring 66 not out by Oshada Fernando. After scoring just 16 runs in the last three innings, Karunaratne’s 25th Test half-century lasted more than four hours.
He faced 176 balls and hit nine fours before being lbw to all-rounder Kyle Meyers after lunch.
While giving Shraddha Suman for his 11 wickets in two matches, Karunaratne said to Karunaratne, “I am really happy with the way I am playing in this series, especially the bowlers and especially Suranga (Lakmal).”
“We need to improve on our batting, especially in building partnerships. This is a concern for me.”
Karunaratne added 101 for the first wicket with Lahiru Thirimane, who battled through the afternoon period before eventually falling for 39, making a full delivery to paceman Alzari Joseph for Rahkem Cornwall in the first slip.
Thirimanne ended the series with a 240-run tally, with the most on either side, leading them three runs ahead of West Indies captain and fellow opener Craig Brathwaite.
On day 10 of Test cricket, and especially on the final day of the series, when they were struggling for any power on a solid surface, Brathwaite said, “None of our players ever gave up.
“We are going in the right direction and once we maintain that discipline and commitment we will be a team.”
Brathwaite’s innings of 126 and 85 made him the man of the match.
While the home captain eliminated every bowling option available to him, Fernando ensured there was no delay in his partnership with former captain Dinesh Chandimal in the final season.
At the same time as he played for almost three hours at the crease, Fernando again seemed sensitive to Meyers’ gentle swing bowling.
After being rejected by Barbadian in his last two innings, he needed the benefit of television replay technique and a successful DRS referral before Meyer’s decision to set foot against him.
Sri Lanka’s work was made easier by Shannon Gabriel’s absence for most of the afternoon.
The West Indies fastest bowler left the field in his sixth over due to a hamstring injury.
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Leg-side catch Thirimanne was introduced to wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva early in the day when he was on just 17 runs.
The early morning rain only delayed the start of the game by more than an hour, effectively ending any far-fetched hopes that the Sri Lankans would entertain the launch of the run-way.
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