West Indies Vs Sri Lanka – 1st Test: Day 3 – West Indies Dominate Again

• The pitch was expected to be pretty difficult to play on as it was going to offer uneven bounce and this would aid the pace bowlers.
• This was good news for the Windies but not for the Sri Lankans who were trailing by 383 runs with only 7 wickets in hand.
• Windies wishes were soon answered as Roach shattered the leg-stump of Silva and Sri Lanka lost their 4th wicket.

• Sri Lanka’s wicket-keeper Dickwella joined Chandimal on the crease. The pitch was continued to constantly make problems for the batsmen.
• But, somehow both these players retaliated the Windies pacers and laid a 78-run partnership to steady Sri Lanka’s sinking ship.
• At this point, Chandimal was closing in on a well-deserved fifty, but this milestone of his was denied by Gabriel who took his wicket before lunch.

Feel sorry for Chandimal. He’s probably the only Sri Lankan Cricketer currently trying his heart out in every match. Others are just passengers in this spineless SL side. #SLvWINDIES

— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) 8 June 2018

• Perera joined Chandimal hoping to repair the immense damage done by the Windies pacers. But, Dickwella who was playing quite patiently, but he lost his wicket due to his laziness as he was run-out by Brathwaite.

#VIVOIPL #PerfecfFan Dickwella, a lousy run-out casualty! ?

He was jogging across, as his partner was rushing to the striker’s end, but Brathwaite does the unexpected as a direct-hit catches him short at the other end.#WIvSL

— Mannu (@IamSinghMannu) 8 June 2018

• With this wicket, West Indies now had exclusive access to Sri Lanka’s lower order as Herath walked out to bat.
• Jason Holder brought Cummins back into the attack and it paid off as he took Herath’s wicket and Sri Lanka lost their 7th wicket of the match.

I don’t think anyone can have a bad word to say about Rangana Herath. Forty years old and cracking out reverse sweeps when his team is 250 runs behind in a test match. What a guy #WINvsSL

— Alex Healey (@AlexH1985) 8 June 2018

• Lakmal was the new batsman after Herath and at this point Sri Lanka 148/7 and they needed to get to 215 runs to avoid a follow-on in this test.
• But Windies were bowling quite exceptionally as the last recognised batsman fell to David Bishoo who claimed his 1st wicket of the match.
• After this wicket, Lakmal and the new batsman, Gamage shared a 19-run partnership to hold off Windies pacers for quite some time.
• But, it was not long before Cummins claimed his 2nd wicket of this innings and Lakmal went back to the pavilion.
• Kumara was the last man in and he also became a victim of Cummins bowling and Sri Lanka’s innings came to a close.

#WIvSL: Today, we celebrate @westindies fast bowlers. Led by Miguel Cummins, they demolished @OfficialSLC for 185 in their first innings in the first Test in T&T. pic.twitter.com/SMoazOM8By

— CricketWestIndies (@westindies) 8 June 2018

• West Indies captain had the option to enforce a follow-on but he chose to bat as Tea was called on the 3rd day of this test.
• This was a poor decision to make and cricket fans thought the same.

West Indies will not endorse the follow-on poor decisions I would say
Let Sri Lanka bat again which could be an opportunity to win the game by inning

— Shirish Chunara (@shirish_cric) 8 June 2018

West Indies are playing Sri Lanka in a Test Match nobody looks interested in including the players themselves. And dragging the drudgery even further, WI will probably bat on and not enforce the follow on. #WIvSL

— Ram Narayan (@Rnb129) 8 June 2018

West Indies Vs Sri Lanka: WI 2nd Innings

• Having a lead of 229 runs, West Indies openers Devon Smith and Brathwaite started the 2nd innings for WI.
• Sri Lankan bowlers were being consistent with their line and length and got rewarded for it as Lakmal took the wicket of Devon Smith.
• Further pressure was induced on West Indies as Kumara struck in his very 1st over and sent Brathwaite back to the pavilion.
• Shai Hope joined Powell at the wicket, but after sharing a 20-run stand Hope departed, courtesy of an epic catch by Kusal Mendis.

• At this point, Roston chase came on the crease and both batsmen shared a 44-run stand to deny Sri Lanka any wicket and break their momentum.
• And, in this process, Powell reached his fifty; A proud effort.

#WIvSL: Kieran Powell followed up destructive fast bowling with a breezy, unbeaten half-century to extend the lead of the WINDIES over Sri Lanka to 360 in the first Test in T&T. pic.twitter.com/LbFPpsH2yd

— CricketWestIndies (@westindies) 8 June 2018

• The day was coming to an end and this 44-run stand of WI was broken by Herath who shattered the stumps of Roston Chase.
• Sri Lanka needed 1 more wicket to end the day on a positive note. But, Shane Dowrich and Powell held on tight and ended Day 3 with West Indies in the lead by 360 runs and 6 wickets in hand.
• West Indies Vs Sri Lanka 1st test is shaping up to be on West Indies side and Sri Lanka need a miracle to draw this test much less win it.

Join Allsportspk tomorrow for Day 4 of West Indies Vs Sri Lanka 1st Test.

D Bishoo

DS Smith

JO Holder (Cpt.)

KAJ Roach

KC Brathwaite

KOA Powell

ML Cummins

RL Chase

SD Hope

SO Dowrich (Wkt.)

ST Gabriel

AD Mathews

ARS Silva

BKG Mendis

CBRLS Kumara

HMRKB Herath

LD Chandimal (Cpt.)

MDK Perera

MDKJ Perera

N Dickwella (Wkt.)

PLS Gamage

RAS Lakmal