Print

Mail

wiki links

Sri Lanka's opener gets unbeaten 108 on the West Indies

Opener Marvan Atapattu carried his bat through the first day of the first cricket test with an unbeaten 108 Friday as Sri Lanka piled on 250 for four against the West Indies.

It was Atapattu's 11th test century, and his first since May last year against England. He cracked 13 fours in 242 balls, before heavy rain ended play with 2.5 overs remaining.

Thilan Samaraweera, unbeaten on 7, and Atapattu will resume Saturday in position to give Sri Lanka a strong start toward its aim of winning its first test series in the Caribbean.

Atapattu received solid support from Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Mahela Jayawardene (45) in the middle order.

Fast bowler Corey Collymore, back after four years in the one-day squad, led the West Indies attack with two for 41 off 15.1 overs.

Collymore struck early after Sri Lanka won the toss, claiming Sanath Jayasuriya for eight when his square cut was smartly caught at gully by Omari Banks with the score at 19.

Then Atapattu and Sangakkara built a second-wicket stand of 108 either side of lunch.

Sangakkara, in his 29th test, became the ninth Sri Lankan to pass 2,000 test runs when he reached 22.

He became involved in a heated exchange with West Indies skipper Brian Lara shortly after he passed his half century, off 86 balls with six fours.

Lara was incensed that Sangakkara was scuffing up the pitch by running down the middle, and confronted the batsman with his complaint.

Umpires Billy Bowden of New Zealand and Daryl Harper of Australia stepped in to cool the tension.

Sangakkara fell two overs later as he misjudged a straighter ball from part-time off-spinner Chris Gayle and was leg before to no stroke.

Jayawardene and Atapattu then added 68 for the third wicket.

Jayawardene was in sight of a half century when off-spinner Banks induced a loose drive and Lara at slip clung onto a low catch one-handed to his right. Jayawardene hit four fours off 101 deliveries.

Captain Hashan Tillakaratne arrived in a positive mood and helped vice-captain Atapattu to within one of a century when he fell to Collymore.

Tillakaratne was bowled for 13 off the inside edge as he drove at a ball wide of off stump.

Atapattu endured a long wait on 99 as he failed to get the strike for 15 minutes.

But the stylish right-hander coolly collected the century with his 12th boundary, an exquisite extra cover drive. The stroke typified Atapattu's confidence throughout the day on a true pitch at the Caribbean's new eighth test venue.

Samaraweera survived a few anxious moments, especially from Collymore, to be remain unbeaten at stumps when the third sharp rainburst of the day brought a premature close.
This story has been viewed 1581 times.