Get the cpl app now!

X

BRATHWAITE FIFTY, RAIN CLINCH DRAW FOR THE WINDIES

Back
By Author Cricket-21 Team

Sri Lanka 253 (Chandimal 119*, Gabriel 5-59) and 342 (Mendis 87,  Gabriel 8-62) drew with West Indies 300 (Smith 61, Kumara 4-86) and 147 for 5 (Brathwaite 59*, Hope 39, Rajitha 2-23, Lakmal 2-48)

A resolute fifty from Brathwaite and a late spell of rain helped the Windies squeeze out a draw at Gros Islet, keeping their lead of 1-0 over Sri Lanka going into the third and final Test in Barbados.

Sri Lanka chose not to declare overnight despite leading by 287 runs at the end of day four, they lasted just three overs on the morning of Day Five. Shannon Gabriel removed both tail-enders, Suranga Lakmal was his 12th wicket of the game, falling four balls into the first over of the day.

In Gabriel’s second over, Dananjaya was bowled, trying to duck under a short delivery that did not rise. He became Gabriel’s 100th wicket in Tests, and his eighth wicket of the innings. His match figures of 13/121, is the best by a Windies bowler at home, and the third best for them in Tests. Only Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding have better figures.

The tall pacer led the Windies off the field, deservedly carrying the match ball in muted celebration. He was later awarded the man-of-the-match for his performance through the second Test.

Chasing a target of 295, the Windies had their back against the wall from the start, debutant Kasun Rajitha picked up two wickets in the fourth over of the innings. Devon Smith, after a patient fifty in the first innings, edged a delivery well outside off stump. Two balls later, Kieran Powell lazily flicked one off his pads to short square leg, leaving Windies reeling at eight for two.

The two wickets brought Brathwaite and Shai Hope to the crease. This partnership, in two parts, soaked up 35.5 of the 60.3 overs Sri Lanka bowled in the day. Brathwaite ate into 172 delivers en-route to his unbeaten 58, his 17th half-century in Tests.

Shai Hope, in the 13th over of the day, retired hurt after being struck on the ribs by a 145+ kph delivery from Lahiru Kumara. He was able to make a come-back after two wickets fell, and his innings was crucial to the Windies making it through to the end of the day.

When Roston Chase came out to bat at 25/2, there were almost 60 overs to go in the day, and Sri Lanka needed seven wickets, excluding Hope. Chase was almost dismissed in his first delivery, the ball bouncing just short of the slips. 

It was a tough time in the middle for Chase, but he managed to play out 30 deliveries before Lakmal dismissed him. The Sri Lankan pacer setup Chase well, bowling a delivery that tamely moved away from Chase followed by one that came sharply in to hit the off-stump. An over later Umpires signalled for Lunch. The visitors were pumped up, and the Windies were struggling at 55/3 with two sessions to go.

Sri Lanka started well after the break, the spinner Akila Dananjaya struck four overs post lunch. Shane Dowrich could add only eight runs to his first innings tally of 55 runs. He was caught at slips playing down the wrong line. His wicket was only the second to fall to spin in this game, and both came off Dananjaya’s deliveries.

Shai Hope came back to the crease and along with Brathwaite, played out the next 23 overs till tea. Their partnership of 53, put the game out of Sri Lanka’s reach. 

Lakmal dismissed Hope, just after the tea break, giving Sri Lanka an outside chance to snatch the game. Just like Chase’s dismissal, the delivery cut back, this time it ricocheted off Hope’s elbow on to the stumps.

After Hope’s dismissal, the rain came down for the first time on Day Five, play was called off for five overs after the fifth wicket. The visitors would feel hard done by the rain delays with nearly 30 overs of play lost on Day Five alone. This might have been ample time for the Lankan’s to wipe out the Windies lower order, considering that the home team’s last four added only 26 in the first innings.

The visitors had their moments in the second Test. They would be questioning some of their decisions, especially their protest on the morning of day three which delayed the Test by two hours and might have inadvertently cost them the game. 

The story does not end here, the drama will continue all the way to Barbados where the two teams play the final Test in five days. Javagal Srinath, the match referee, is expected release a statement about the ball-tampering allegations soon. Question marks remain on whether Chandimal will be allowed to play the next Test. 

The Windies one the other hand have their tails up, leading the series one-nil, on-course to their first Test series win at home since 2014. 

Photo Credit - CWI Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography

REPUBLIC BANK CPL COMMERCIAL PARTNERS

OFFICIAL PARTNERS

Digicel
Bet Barter
Sky Fair
El Dorado
Angostura
OmegaXL
Dream11
 

TITLE SPONSOR

Republic Bank
Digicel

Staging Partners

Barbados
st.Kitts
Visit Trinidad
Guyana
Saint Lucia

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Fedex
Visa
LASCO
Caribbean Airlines
Torginol Paints
Tezo

DIGITAL COLLECTABLES PARTNER

Fedex
BRATHWAITE FIFTY, RAIN CLINCH DRAW FOR THE WINDIES CPL T20

Error

The website encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later.