West Indies and Sri Lanka on even keel after day two action

The West Indies were able to get to the 300-plus score that they had wanted, thanks to a century from captain Kraigg Brathwaite, but the Sri Lankans have held their own following day two action of the second Test in Antigua yesterday.

Lahiru Thirimanne's ninth Test 50 and an unbroken 59-run stand between Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, were at the forefront of Sri Lanka's fightback, as the visitors ended on 136 for 3, replying to the host first innings score of 354.

Pacers Alzzari Joseph, Kemar Roach and medium-pacer Kyle Mayers have picked up the wickets to fall on a day where 203 runs were scored across the two innings.

Joseph started things off for the West Indies removing Dimuth Karunaratne for one, after edging a delivery to slip which was brilliantly taken one-handed from a diving effort from Nkrumah Bonner.

Oshado Fernando got to 18 before he went lbw to Mayers, after which the innings top scorer so far Thirimanne was bowled by Roach for 55.

Pretty even-steven

Chandimal will resume today on 34 with De Silva 23 and former captain Jason Holder believes the contest is even at the moment.

"It's pretty even-steven at the moment as they have got two set batsmen at the crease. Maybe if we can grab two more before the new ball and then make the second new ball count, then I believe we are pretty much ahead in the game," said Holder.

Earlier, in the day, the West Indies made Sri Lanka toil for nearly two hours for the three remaining wickets after the host had resumed on 287 for seven.

The unbeaten overnight pair of Brathwaite on 99 and Cornwall 43, both reached their milestones early on the second morning, with Brathwaite getting his ninth Test century and Cornwall registering back-to-back 50s in the series with a career-best 73.

Cornwall would eventually fall to Suranga Lakmal, while Dushmantha Chameera accounted for the other two wickets, including Brathwaite who was the last man to fall for a well-played 126. The pair had put on 103 for the eight-wicket to push the West Indies past the 300 mark.