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Windies hit back

June 29, 2003 14:59 IST

Jerome Taylor grabbed his first Test wickets as the West Indies took control of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday, restricting the tourists to 129 for five at stumps -- a lead of just 146.

Sri Lanka dominated the first two sessions of the second day's play and started their second innings with a 17-run lead after dismissing the West Indies for just 191, with Prabath Nissanka leading the attack with five wickets for 64.

But the Sabina Park wicket continued to offer encouragement to the pace bowlers and Corey Collymore gave the West Indies an early breakthrough when he trapped Sanath Jayasuriya (13) lbw with a delivery that straightened onto the batsman's pads.

Kumar Sangakkara, who top-scored with 75 of Sri Lanka's first innings total of 208, managed just 12 the second time around before he was caught behind, again off Collymore to leave the tourists struggling at 43-2.

After a wicketless debut in the first Test last week, the 19-year-old Taylor had laboured through three Sri Lankan innings without success, he finally managed to make his mark when the stylish Marvan Atapattu (28) was caught behind.

As the West Indies sought to take control, Romesh Kaluwitharana injected a sense of urgency into the Sri Lankan innings, striking four boundaries off one over by first innings hero Fidel Edwards.

However, Edwards had the satisfaction of ending Sri Lanka's 38-run fourth wicket stand when Mahela Jaywardene (32) was caught behind, giving the debutant his sixth wicket of the match.

Taylor then clean-bowled Kaluwitharana (23) from the first ball of the next over as Sri Lanka ended the day 146 runs ahead with only five second innings wickets remaining.

NISSANKA HAUL

Earlier, pace bowler Nissanka had posted a career-best figures to help Sri Lanka dismiss the West Indies in just 52.4 overs.

West Indies made a bright start after resuming on four without loss before off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan rocked the home side by dismissing Brian Lara lbw for 10 before lunch.

Lara lashed Muralitharan's first ball through the covers for four but was then trapped in front in the next over by the Sri Lankan's "doosra", a delivery which zipped back towards his leg stump.

Openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds dealt uneasily with the lively swing and seam attack of Chaminda Vaas and test debutant Thilan Thushara when play began.

Nissanka entered the fray and immediately troubled the left handers with his pace.

Gayle reached 31 when he misjudged a rising delivery and let the ball glance off his handle for a gully catch.

Hinds soon followed, caught behind for 19 flashing at a widish delivery.

Vaas made the next breakthrough, dismissing Ramneresh Sarwan for 31 when he was bowled moving too far across the ball.

Omari Banks was caught for two edging an extravagant cut attempt to Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillakaratne at slip.

Marlon Samuels (14) was dismissed in identical circumstances and left the field with his team in trouble on 123 for six.

Ridley Jacobs and Vasbert Drakes added 39 for the seventh wicket with Drakes thumping five boundaries, including two fine sweeps off Muralitharan.

Jacobs (16) was then undone by a swirling Muralitharan delivery that caught the top of the batsman's pad as he tried to scramble backwards for room.

Taylor (1) did little to justify his promotion to the number nine slot and his cover drive off Kumar Dharmasena was easily caught. Drakes was finally bowled by Muralitharan for 30.


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