Compiled by Ranjika Perera

[caption id="attachment_177031" align="alignleft" width="356"] Wanigamuni Ramesh Tarinda Mendis, 26, from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda playing in his fourth Test, has already taken 21 Test wickets. His 6/70 yesterday (1) in Galle is his first-ever five-for. Photos SLC [/caption]

Ramesh Mendis’ maiden five-for restricted the visitors to 253 all out yet two run-outs late in the day pegged Sri Lanka back as they still trail by three runs in the second innings at stumps on day-three in the second and final cricket Test against West Indies, for the Sobers - Tissera Trophy, at the Galle International Stadium yesterday (1).

Braithwaite lead from the top

The first hour was dominated by the Windies. Sri Lankan straight away opted for spin and after string of tight overs, Sri Lanka leaked a few runs to help Windies start their day positively. The only breakthrough came few minutes before the lunch break Nkrumah Bonner was dismissed by Mendis. The second wicket partnership of 74 runs between skipper Kraigg Braithwaite and Nkrumah Bonner made sure that Windies get closer to the first innings total of Sri Lanka.

Mendis comes to fore

The pitch was beginning to spin after the lunch session and the hosts got the big fish of Braithwaite after a well made 72. From there on, Mendis took charge of the proceedings. Roston Chase was the first to go, caught at leg slip, before Hope joined him a few overs later, adjudged leg before. Following him, Jason Holder found himself rapped on the back pad. Mendis then put himself on a hat-trick, getting one to spin back and clip Joshua Da Silva’s off stump.

Windies have the last laugh

After cleaning up the tail quick after tea, Sri Lanka got on to bat 49 runs behind the Windies. Their second innings had a huge drawback at the very beginning when Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne got run out. Few overs later, Oshada Fernando was also caught short of crease which put Sri Lanka at 46 for 2 at the end of the day.

Loose bowling in morning session

[caption id="attachment_177032" align="alignleft" width="420"] Oshada Fernando attempts to get a catch off Windies’ Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite[/caption]

Sri Lankans would have ideally wanted to start the day with a couple of wickets. But it was the exact opposite. The spin trio struggled yet again, pretty similar to how they were in the first innings whenever there was a break in play. The first session probably cost Sri Lanka the lead and this could potentially be a deciding the factor as the game progress.

Mathews out for six to seven weeks

Apart from conceding a lead in the first innings, Sri Lanka also lost their most senior batter in Angelo Mathews.

After he withdrew from the crease with an injury while batting, he was sent for scans and it turns out to be bad news for the team and himself.

He is most likely to miss the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and will be out for six to seven weeks. It’s a huge blow for Mathews who is making a comeback after some time away from cricket.

SCORECARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings 204

Jermaine Blackwood lbw Jayawickrama 44

Kraigg Brathwaite (Capt.) b Embuldeniya 72

Nkrumah Bonner lbw Mendis 35

Shai Hope lbw Mendis 22

Roston Chase c Nissanka b Mendis 10

Kyle Mayers not out 36

Jason Holder lbw Mendis 4

Joshua Da Silva (wk) b Mendis 0

Kemar Roach c de Silva b Jayawickrama 8

Veerasammy Permaul b Embuldeniya 15

Jomel Warrican c Karunaratne b Mendis 1

Extras (nb 6) 6

Total (all out in 104.2 overs) 253

Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Blackwood, 27.4 ov), 2-137 (Bonner, 58.1 ov), 3-166 (Brathwaite, 71.5 ov), 4-180 (Chase, 80.5 ov), 5-191 (Hope, 84.3 ov), 6-197 (Holder, 86.5 ov), 7-197 (Da Silva, 86.6 ov), 8-208 (Roach, 89.2 ov), 9-246 (Permaul, 101.1 ov), 10-253 (Warrican, 104.2 ov)

Bowling: Lakmal 9-3-22-0 (2nb), Embuldeniya 35-13-94-2 (4nb), Mendis 34.2-8-70-6, Jayawickrama 25-4-59-2, De Silva 1-0-8-0

Sri Lanka 2nd innings

Pathum Nissanka not out 21

Dimuth Karunaratne (Capt.) run out (Mayers) 6

Oshada Fernando run out (Blackwood) 14

Charith Asalanka not out 4

Extras (lb 1) 1

Total (for 2 wickets in 21 overs) 46

Did not bat: Angelo Mathews (injured), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Karunaratne, 1.5 ov), 2-39 (Fernando, 14.3 ov)

Bowling: Veerasammy Permaul 9-2-20-0, Roston Chase 5-1-8-0, Jomel Warrican 7-1-17-0

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