http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 fight back after being forced to follow-on at Galle
Sri Lanka has made a solid comeback in the first Test match against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 in Galle, after being forced to follow-on by a rampant West Indian team spurred by a brilliant triple ton by former Test captain Chris Gayle.
The Sri Lankans reached 89 for no loss at the close of play on day four, and have given themselves a decent chance of saving the game on the last day of the match.
The hosts are now only 113-runs adrift of the West Indians first innings total of 580, and given the strength of their batting line-up, the hosts should be confident of holding out for a draw on the final day on a wicket that has not broken up yet.
Resuming at their overnight score of 165 for three wickets, the hosts were looking to reach the follow on mark of 381-runs, however they kept losing wickets at regular intervals throughout the first two sessions.
The West Indian pace and slow bowlers kept a tight leash on the Lankan batsmen and were rewarded for their work just before the tea interval. Sri Lanka was sent packing for 378-runs, still 203-runs short of the West Indians first innings total.
Mahlea Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera started the rearguard action in the morning session. Former captain Jayawardene, who is closing in on the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket was the first one to reach his half century, however soon afterwards he edged
a rising ball from Kemar Roach into the hands of wicket-keeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Carlton-Baugh-c49264.
Jayawardene scored 58 off 88-balls with four boundaries and one six in his innings. His dismissal brought all-rounder Angelo Mathews to the crease. The right hander looked comfortable at the crease initially as Samaraweera completed his half century at the
other end.
Samaraweera was then unfortunate to be run out when a firm drive from Mathews was palmed onto the stumps by the bowler Dwayne Bravo, with the batsman well out short of the crease at the non-strikers end.
The Sri Lankans suffered another big blow, when Matthews was dismissed just before lunch. Mathews tried to glance a ball that pitched on the leg stump, but ended up guiding it into the hands of Darren Sammy at leg slip.
Suraj Randiv was sent packing soon after lunch, with the score at 295 for seven. Wicket-keeper Prasana Jayawardene and fast bowler Dhamika Prasad then tried their best to pull their team out of trouble with a resolute 72-run stand for the ninth wicket.
Prasad fell to spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis failed to provide much resistance to the West Indians, he was smartly caught by Darren Bravo at point off the bowling of Kemar Roach.
The Sri Lankan innings folded at 378, when Prasana Jayawardene top edged a sweep shot off Shillingford. The wicket-keeper scored 58 off 88-balls, his knock was studded with four boundaries and one six.
Staring at the prospect of an innings defeat, the Sri Lankans started aggressively in their second innings. Openers Tilakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana played out the final session of the day, safely taking their team to 89 for no loss. Both openers
remain unbeaten on 44-runs.
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