Compiled by Ranjika Perera

[caption id="attachment_176823" align="alignleft" width="359"] Best figures after nine years. The 31-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul took career best of 5/35 triggering a major collapse in hosts’ first innings batting yesterday (30 November) in Galle. Photos SLC[/caption]

Veerasammy Permaul starred with a brilliant five-wicket haul for the West Indies as they skittled out Sri Lanka for 204 to end the day on 69/1 before rain curtailed action in the Galle International Stadium yesterday (30 November). That was on the second day of the second cricket Test between the two countries. The hosts lead the series 1-0.

Sri Lanka dropped from a dominant position of 152/2 to 204 all out, losing eight wickets for 52 runs in less than just 13 overs as West Indies opted for spin at both ends to begin proceedings in a dramatic morning session of play yesterday.

Best figures after nine years

Adding to the 31-year-old left-arm orthodox bowler Permaul’s 5/35, the other Windies’ left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican too took 4/50.

Permaul is playing in his seventh Test to surpass his previous best bowling in an innings of a Test; 3/32 which he took against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2012 in his debut match.

Oshada wicket sparks collapse

Pathum Nissanka and Oshada Fernando continued where they left off on Monday, the first day of the Test. Though runs flowed early, Sri Lanka’s plans to have a challenging first-innings total were in disarray since Fernando edged to wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva for 18.

Angelo Mathews joined Nissanka, though their aspirations of a solid partnership were quelled inside seven overs, thanks to a double strike from Permaul in just the second over of his spell.

Mathews get injured

After trapping Nissanka in front for 73, Dhananjaya de Silva was punished for being in two minds, edging to the man with the gloves for just two.

The double-blow spelt danger for Sri Lanka who were in graver trouble after veteran Mathews hobbled off the ground after running a single. Then Sri Lanka were 4/162 in 50.2 overs.

First-ever five-for

[caption id="attachment_176829" align="alignleft" width="452"] Oshada Fernando’s fall saw Sri Lanka entering into an abysmal collapse where they lost eight wickets for 52 runs in less than just 13 overs[/caption] Spin continued to tangle Sri Lanka with debutant local lad Charith Asalanka (10) also being undone by Permaul.

Not to be outdone, Warrican was back in the act with two more of his own, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal (2) and Ramesh Mendis (5) in consecutive overs.

Permaul would then snap up the next two wickets that of Lasith Embuldeniya and Suranga Lakmal to bring up his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.

Better at facing Lankan spinners

It wouldn’t take long for West Indies to wrap things up as Mathews (29) would be the last man to be dismissed. It was spin again which did the damage as Warrican celebrated the scalp.

West Indies then headed to lunch at 2/0.

[caption id="attachment_176832" align="alignleft" width="271"] The other Windies’ left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took 4/50[/caption]

Their openers - Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood - batted sensibly in the second session, treating the deliveries on their merit. They also look relatively comfortable against the Sri Lankan spinners, a massive improvement from their performance in the first Test which they lost by 187 runs on Thursday, 25 November.

Rain stops play

Blackwood was closing in on his half-century when Jayawickrama delivered the first blow for the hosts. A delivery pitching on middle and leg would straighten enough to trap Blackwood, who then reviewed unsuccessfully to bring an end to his knock of 44.

The heavens would then open up in Galle bringing a delay in proceedings with West Indies at 69/1. Rain would persist for the remainder of the day, meaning no further play would be possible.

The visitors, though, would be happy with their showing in the day with a brilliant performance in the field followed by a steady outing with the bat as they now trail the hosts by only 135 runs with nine wickets intact, going into the third day today.

SCORECARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings

(Overnight 113/1 in 34.4 overs)

Pathum Nissanka lbw Permaul 73

Dimuth Karunaratne (Capt.) c & b Chase 42

Oshada Fernando c da Silva b Warrican 18

Angelo Mathews b Warrican 29

Dhananjaya de Silva c da Silva b Permaul 2

Charith Asalanka c Bonner b Permaul 10

Dinesh Chandimal (wk) lbw Warrican 2

Ramesh Mendis c Hope b Warrican 5

Suranga Lakmal c Warrican b Permaul 12

Lasith Embuldeniya b Permaul 1

Praveen Jayawickrama not out 0

Extras (nb 3, lb 7) 10

Total (all out in 61.3 overs) 204

Fall of wickets: 1-106 (Karunaratne, 30.6 ov), 2-139 (Fernando, 41.6 ov), 3-152 (Nissanka, 48.2 ov), 4-154 (de Silva, 48.4 ov), 5-169 (Asalanka, 52.6 ov), 6-169 (Chandimal, 53.3 ov), 7-178 (Mendis, 55.3 ov), 8-187 (Embuldeniya, 58.1 ov), 9-200 (Lakmal, 60.5 ov), 10-204 (Mathews, 61.3 ov)

Bowling: Roach 6-2-12-0, Holder 8-2-23-0, Mayers 2-0-13-0, Permaul 13-3-35-5 (1nb), Chase 14-0-64-1, Warrican 18.3-5-50-4 (2nb)

West Indies 1st innings

Jermaine Blackwood lbw Jayawickrama 44

Kraigg Brathwaite (Capt) not out 22

Nkrumah Bonner not out 1

Extras (nb 2) 2

Total (for 1 wickets in 29.4 overs) 69

Did not bat: Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jomel Warrican, Veerasammy Permaul, and Kemar Roach

Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Blackwood, 27.4 ov)

Bowling: Lakmal 4-1-16-0, Embuldeniya 14-4-35-0, Mendis 3-0-7-0, Jayawickrama 8.4-2-11-1

Toss: Sri Lanka who elected to bat first

Series: Sri Lanka lead two-match series 1-0

Test Match No.: 2,437

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena and Ruchira Palliyaguruge

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle