A century on Padum Nisanka’s debut and Niroshan Dikwela’s superb innings of 96 put Sri Lanka’s stunning second innings to 476 runs, leaving the West Indies with a challenging win target of 375 runs on Wednesday on the fourth day of the first Test. Despite their successful run of 395 runs on the last day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Bangladesh six weeks ago, the hosts faced the daunting task of 34 for one over on Thursday’s final day.
West Indies captain Craig Brathwaite will resume in partnership with Nakrama Bonner after New Fernando catches John Campbell at the hands of a brilliant wicketkeeper Dickwella.
Nisanka, who lost to Dhananjay D’Silva in the first over of the morning, crawled out slow in the second session of the day, but eventually reached close to the century mark just before tea to join Brendan Kuruppu (who completed a double century). Gaya, Romesh Kaluvitharana and Thilan Samaraweera are the only Sri Lankan players to score a century on Test debut.
Samaraweera, who scored three figures in his first Test against India in Colombo in 2001, was the last player to achieve the landmark before Wednesday.
Nisanka, 22, said through an interpreter, “I was not aware of any such record or anything of the sort. I just wanted to perform for the team.”
“Niroshan asked me to get a big total to make sure to continue the innings for a long time and work with the bowlers.”
Nisanka and Dikwela dominated the first two seasons of the day, scoring 179 runs for the sixth wicket and disappointing the West Indies team which was running out of ideas fast and doing little to help their own cause. was.
Bonner missed the easiest catch off paceman Jason Holder when Dickwella was 45 years old.
He also enjoyed a fortunate shutdown in the elusive century, when the half-century appeal by Aljari Joseph to catch the wicketkeeper on the leg side was turned down by the presiding umpire.
The replays revealed that the batsman sidelined the ball but the West Indies had no course to review to end their television referral earlier in the day.
If it appeared that Dikwela was destined for his first Test century in his 42nd match, the moment’s growing apprehension came to nothing as he was bowled by Kemar Roach playing a sluggish shot at the start of the final season. .
He was hit on the backside of the helmet in the last over of the fast bowler when the ball rolled over the stumps but did not dislike Bells.
Nisanka had already departed for 103, compiled 252 balls in 341 minutes and including six fours, and the innings quickly accumulated for a quick run.
Roach and off-spinner Rahkem Cornwall took three wickets each.
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The spirits of the West Indies were taken away early in the day when de Silva, after reaching the age of 50, bowled extensively to Joseph, working with another new ball.
However the rest of the day belonged to the Sri Lankan team, who would believe that they could lose four consecutive Test matches on the final day.
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