Windies will be banking on Kieran Powell to stretch the lead © AFP
Holder departs:
An attempt to reverse sweep Herath brings about Holder’s downfall as he doesn’t make any contact with the ball and is trapped in front. The DRS fails to help him reverse the onfield decision and he has to depart for 39. Windies are 203 for 7, leading by 432.
200 up for Windies:
A short delivery from Lahiru Gamage is slashed away by Bishoo, who helps Windies past the 200-run mark.
Powell departs:
Coming down the track and looking to flick a Dilruwan delivery through the mid-wicket region, Powell fails to keep the ball down and ends up handing a catch to substitute fielder Vandersay, who puts in the dive. Windies are now 191 for 6, leading by 420.
Lead crosses 400:
Despite being troubled by short deliveries from Kumara, Powell has continued in a solid manner while Holder has also started in a brisk fashion. The lead has crossed 400 with Powell closing in on a three-figure score.
Wicket:
Third wicket for Lahiru Kumara. Bowling mostly back of length deliveries to Dowrich, he bowls one slightly fuller and traps Dowrich in front with a delivery that nips back. A single for Holder off the next delivery takes Windies to 150.
The start:
Lakmal begins with a maiden to Dowrich but the pressure is eased from the other end as Herath bowls a short one first up to Powell, who muscles it past the cover region off the back foot for his seventh four.
Pitch report:
“The pitch has behaved well but there have been some areas from where ball has misbehaved. Some cracks are beginning to open up which means life will be difficult for the batsmen in the fourth innings. The odd ball will keep low. Batting is going to be difficult as the day goes on,” reckons Sunil Gavaskar.
Build-up:
Hello and welcome to the Live Blog for Day 4 of the first Test between Windies and Sri Lanka in Port of Spain. The hosts extended their domination on Day 3 thanks to a clinical performance from their pacers, bowling out Sri Lanka for 185 to pick up a 229-run lead. They could have enforced the follow-on but didn’t as they wanted to “keep Sri Lanka on the field and get them tired,” reasoned Kieran Powell.
Despite losing a few early wickets, the hosts were able to stretch their lead to 360 by the time stumps were drawn and that was thanks to Powell’s unbeaten 64 which took them to 131 for 4. Windies will be looking to score some quick runs on the fourth morning to apply further pressure on the already troubled visitors.
“The plan is to bat till lunch and take it from there, put ourselves in a position from where we can’t lose the game and getting Sri Lankans to run around,” said Powell. If it goes according to plans, Sri Lanka will be looking at a 450-plus target. Can they limit the damage early on Day 4? We’ll find out soon.
