Shared News • Last updated on Sun, 24 Jun, 2018, 05:57 AM
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Windies lost the wicket of Hope in the second session. © AFP
The Windies innings continued to struggle for momentum as the hosts slipped to 88 for 5 in another truncated session on the first day in the third and final Test in Barbados on Saturday (June 23). Shane Dowrich has scored 36 while Suranga Lakmal and Kasun Rajitha have picked up two wickets apiece as only 12.3 overs were possible before the dinner break because of rain.
Sri Lanka got off to a perfect start in the second session as Rajitha dismissed Shai Hope early into the session. However, the visitors were met with some stern resistance from Dowrich (36) and Jason Holder (18) as the duo scored unbeaten 35 before the players were forced off the field.
Surprisingly, Holder opted to bat first on a lively, green surface against the depleted Sri Lankan side. With Dinesh Chandimal suspended the leadership responsibilities were handed to Suranga Lakmal while Rangana Herath failed to recover in time to walk into the XI. Visitors included Dilruwan Perera while the hosts went in unchanged.
Things went pear-shaped pretty quickly for Windies as they wobbled to 8 for 3 inside six overs before the heavens opened up in the first session. Lakmal struck twice, sending back Devon Smith in the first over and then Kraigg Brathwaite in the fifth. Lahiru Kumara accounted for Kieran Powell as the Windies top three failed to find a way past some tight bowling and movement off the deck.
Roston Chase and Shai Hope tried to steady the innings but the former fell just before Tea as the hosts went into the break with the pressure squarely on them.
Brief scores: Windies 88/5 (Suranga Lakmal 2-28) vs Sri Lanka.
