A batting masterclass from Dhananjaya de Silva helped Sri Lanka dominate West Indies on Day 4 of the second Test at Galle International Stadium, Galle. At the close of play on Thursday, Sri Lanka were 328/8 (119), for a 279-run lead. De Silva (153 off 259) was on an unbeaten 107-run stand with Lasith Embuldeniya (25 off 110) for the ninth wicket. For the Windies, Veerasammy Permaul took three wickets, while Roston Chase got a couple. Sri Lanka won the first Test by 187 runs. Catch Day 4 highlights and cricket scores of the second SL vs WI Test match:
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17:24 PM IST: Stumps
Nkrumah Bonner with the final over of the day. Two singles. 29 runs in the last ten overs. Dhananjaya de Silva and Lasith Embuldeniya are the unbeaten batters. SL - 328/8 (119)
16:48 PM IST: 300 Up
The ninth-wicket stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Lasith Embuldeniya continues to grow. They have already added 81 runs in 154 balls. Sri Lanka lead by 253 runs. SL - 302/8 (110)
16:19 PM IST: Drinks
Kemar Roach continues to operate from one end. Three from his seventh over. 28 runs in the last ten. The ninth-wicket stand between Dhananjaya de Silva (131 off 231) and Lasith Embuldeniya (8 off 48) now worth 67 off 118. Sri Lanka lead by 239 runs. SL - 288/8 (104)
15:51 PM IST: Lead Grows
50-run stand for Dhananjaya de Silva (121 off 216) and Lasith Embuldeniya (7 off 32). Sri Lanka lead by 224 runs. SL - 273/8 (99)
15:27 PM IST: Century
Dhananjaya de Silva takes a couple off the third ball for his hundred, in 189 balls. His stand with Lasith Embuldeniya now worth 25. Sri Lanka lead by 197 runs. SL - 246/8 (92.3)
15:18 PM IST: Play Resumes
Veerasammy Permaul resumes the post-tea session. Dhananjaya de Silva takes strike.
15:00 PM IST: Tea
Dhananjaya de Silva one hit away from his century. Goes to tea on 96 off 180. Lasith Embuldeniya is his batting partner. 30 runs and two wickets in the last 10 overs. Sri Lanka lead by 189 runs. SL - 238/8 (90)
14:34 PM IST: Eight Down
Veerasammy Permaul strikes again. Angelo Mathews goes for 2 off 10. Caught by Jermaine Blackwood at slip. Lasith Embuldeniya is the new man. Sri Lanka lead by 172 runs. SL - 221/8 (84.3)
14:28 PM IST: Second For Permaul
Veerasammy Permaul gets his second. He traps Suranga Lakmal in front for 7 off 11. Angelo Mathews joins Dhananjaya de Silva (79 off 156) in the middle. Sri Lanka lead by 170 runs. SL - 219/7 (82.5)
14:13 PM IST: Brathwaite Strikes
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite strikes in his first over. Ramesh Mendis (25 off 58) holes out at deep mid-wicket, caught by Kemar Roach. Suranga Lakmal is the new batter. Sri Lanka lead by 159 runs. WI - 208/6 (79.5)
14:05 PM IST: 200 up Lanka
200 up for Sri Lanka. Ramesh Mendis (24*) and Dhananjaya de Silva (70*) are currently at the crease. Sri Lanka 202/5, lead by 155 runs.
13:05 PM IST: Chase strikes
Super start by West Indies after lunch. And it's Roston Chase once again as he dismisses Dinesh Chandimal for just 2, caught and bowled. Sri Lanka 160/5. Meanwhile, Dhananjaya de Silva reaches fifty.
12:06 PM IST: Lunch
The partnership has finally been broken. Roston Chase traps Pathum Nissanka, LBW for 66. Sri Lanka 151/4, lead by 102 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva is batting at 45. Lunch has been taken.
11:49 AM IST: Lanka go strong
While Pathum Nissanka is managing one end, his partner Dhananjaya de Silva has played a perfect ally at the other. The right-hander has played his shots to perfection so far for his unbeaten 37. Sri Lanka 135/3, lead by 86 runs.
11:13 AM IST: Nissanka fifty
Pathum Nissanka brings up his fifty in back-to-back matches against West Indies in the series. 100 also comes up for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka 109/3, lead by 60 runs.
10:42 AM IST: Nissanka goes strong
Pathum Nissanka (43*) continues his good run with the bat. After a half-century in the first game, the left-hander once again looks set for fifty today. Sri Lanka will look upon Nissanka to score big today. Sri Lanka 89/3, lead by 40 runs
10:20 AM IST: Permaul draws first blood
West Indies get their first of the day. Veerasammy Permaul gets debutant Charith Asalanka for 19, caught by Nkumrah Bonner. Sri Lanka 73/3. Dhananjaya de Silva in the crease.
9:55 AM IST: Lanka take lead
Sri Lanka take the lead. A four from Pathum Nissanka takes Sri Lanka ahead of West Indies. Sri Lanka 53/2
9:45 AM IST: Day starts
Pathum Nissanka and debutant Charith Asalanka start the day for Sri Lanka against West Indies on Day 4. Sri Lanka 47/, still trail by 2 runs.
It's been a bowlers' Test match at Galle so far. Batting collapses and horrible run outs have defined the second Sri Lanka vs West Indies Test. West Indies, who have never won a Test match in Sri Lanka and are 1-0 down in this two-match series, have their nose ahead in this contest. Can they convert that to a stronger hold?
Forty-nine runs behind West Indies, Sri Lanka started their second innings disastrously. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was run out for 6 and Oshada Fernando was run out for 14.
The hosts will start Day 4 at 46 for 2, hoping that first innings top-scorer Pathum Nissanka (batting on 21) will continue his good batting form in this Test. Nissanka was Lanka's top scorer in the first innings with 73.
The Sri Lankans will get a taste of their own medicine on Thursday - spin. Left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Jomel Warrican combined for nine Sri Lanka wickets with career-best performances on Tuesday as Sri Lanka collapsed to 204 all out after being 106 for one.
On Wednesday, it was spin that did the talking as West Indies also frittered a solid start to suffer a batting collapse. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was West Indies' top scorer with 72 but it was Kyle Mayers (36 not out) and Kemar Roach (8), who ensured that the West Indies take the first-innings lead.
Sri Lankan off-spinner Ramesh Mendis (6 for 70) took his maiden five-wicket haul and left-arm spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya took two wickets each as West Indies looked at sea on a turning track.
Dhananjaya de Silva
