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Hinds has unbeaten 74 on Sri Lanka in second test match

Wavell Hinds blasted a thrilling, unbeaten 74 on to follow two crucial wickets earlier as West Indies mounted a positive reply to Sri Lanka's 354 all out on the second day of their opening cricket test.

Left-hander Hinds smashed four sixes and three fours off 87 balls Saturday to power the home team to 161 for two off just 33 overs at close.

Captain Brian Lara (36 not out off 47 balls) shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 95 with Hinds, as both batsmen dominated off-spinning ace Muttiah Muralitharan.

Jamaican Hinds earlier claimed first day century-maker Marvan Atapattu as his each-way swing earned him two for 28 off 11 overs.

Sri Lanka, overnight 250 for four, labored to add just 104 runs over the first two sessions in 56.1 overs.

Fast bowler Corey Collymore, playing in only his second test more than four years after his debut in 1999 against Australia, led the West Indies attack and was rewarded with five for 67 off 29 overs.

It was Hinds who made the initial strike, as Atapattu was undone by Hinds' outswing after adding just ten to his overnight 108.

He edged just wide of Lara at the solitary slip off Hinds' third delivery before repeating the stroke next ball and picking out an ecstatic Lara, who comfortably pouched the offering.

The 32-year-old Atapattu batted 404 minutes and hit 15 fours off 277 balls.

Collymore follows up

Collymore, who had been cast as a one-day specialist, followed Hinds breakthrough with three wickets in 17 balls.

The 25-year-old Barbadian seemed a bit fortunate to get umpire Billy Bowden's positive leg before verdict against Romesh Kaluwitharana (2) as the ball drifted to the leg side.

His next was more emphatic as Kashual Lokuarachchi (three fours in 15) edged low to first slip where Lara claimed a fine, low catch.

It was the West Indies captain's 123rd catch in 95 Tests and pushed him past former skipper Viv Richards (122 in 121 matches) on top the list of West Indian fielders.

Collymore also removed a becalmed Thilan Samaraweera (11) to another questionable Bowden decision. Samaraweera added just four runs in 44 balls during the morning session before he was ruled caught behind although TV replays indicated the ball brushed arm and thigh, not bat.

Vaas scores

At 288 for eight, Sri Lanka were in danger of falling for below 300. But Chaminda Vaas shared successive, defiant stands with Muralitharan (14) and last man Prabath Nissanka (13 not out) to boost the lower order.

Vaas scored 38 off 125 balls with four boundaries.

The left-hander added 38 for the ninth wicket with Muralitharan, who went boundaryless in an unusually restrained innings that spanned 100 minutes and 69 balls.

Hinds returned to earn a plain leg before decision with an inswinger against Muralitharan.

Vaas also put on 28 vital runs in an hour with Nissanka, who hit one four off 53 deliveries.

Off-spinner Chris Gayle eventually claimed Vaas to a wicket-keeper's catch to end the innings.

Vaas quickly removed Daren Ganga (12) leg before at 18 for one to stall the West Indies reply.

Gayle and Hinds put on 48 for the second wicket before Muralitharan struck in his second over to trap Gayle leg before to a straighter delivery.

But the visitors' joy was short-lived, as Hinds and Lara reeled off a succession of strokes to liven the 3,000-strong crowd.

Muralitharan was lashed for two sixes and two fours by Hinds and three fours by Lara. The 31-year-old was left with swollen figures of one for 52 off nine overs.

Vaas took one for 29 off 11 overs.
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