Dilshan puts West Indies in a spin

Part-timer takes two wickets as Sri Lanka take control of the 2nd Test.

COLOMBO: Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan grabbed two wickets in one over in fading light to boost Sri Lanka’s hopes of gaining a lead in the second Test against the West Indies.

The off-spinner dismissed well-set Darren Bravo (80) and Brendan Nash (29) before the West Indies reached 165 for five in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to Sri Lanka’s 387 for nine declared. Carlton Baugh was unbeaten on four and Dwayne Bravo on one when play was called off in the final session due to bad light.

Darren Bravo smashed four sixes and five fours in his 129-ball knock before being dismissed, a delivery after Nash was trapped leg-before by Dilshan. Bravo steadied the innings with an 83-run stand for the fourth wicket with Nash after three wickets, including that of Chris Gayle (30), fell for 77 runs. Sri Lanka put the West Indies under pressure when they removed openers Adrian Barath and Gayle before accounting for Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Gayle fell to debutant paceman Suranga Lakmal. West Indies made a poor start when they lost Barath in the third over, trapped leg-before by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2010.