Windies put Sri Lanka to sword on day three

The West Indies bowling unit, led by Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder, ensured that Sri Lanka was kept on the back foot after a rain-affected day three in the second Test in North Sound, Antigua.

When the fourth stoppage of rain brought an end to the day's play, the Sri Lankans, replying to the West Indies first innings score of 354, were 250 for eight, still trailing by 104 runs.

After resuming on 136 for three, the Sri Lankans had to work hard for their runs, as a resolute and disciplined West Indies bowling unit showed up on the third morning.

Dinesh Chandimal, who was not out on 34, added just 10 runs to his overnight score. He fell to a well set trap, hooking a fired-up Shannon Gabriel to deep square leg where he was caught by substitute fielder Hayden Walsh Jr.

On a lighter note, it was all fours for Chandimal, who made 44 batting at number four, and also making four, and four in the first Test.

OVERNIGHT BATSMAN

That wicket of Chandimal boosted the rest of the attack, however, it was an unlikely source that picked up the fifth wicket, as Jermaine Blackwood, bowling his off-breaks, trapped overnight batsman Dhananjaya de Silva leg before wicket (LBW) for 39 to leave the visitors in trouble at 177 for five.

Pathum Nissanka and Niroshan Dickwella then consolidated and took the score to 189 for five at lunch, but five overs into the second session, Dickwella handed Jason Holder his first wicket, when the left-hander inside-edged a delivery to the wicketkeeper for 20.

With their tails up, the West Indies bowlers went in for the kill, and soon after, Joseph picked up his second wicket of the innings, when he had Suranga Lakmal caught by captain Kraigg Brathwaite for six, at 214 for seven.

Seventeen runs later, Holder claimed his second scalp, as he induced the edge of Dushmantha Chameera for two to hand wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva his second catch of the innings.

All this time, Nissanka played confidently despite the falling of wickets around him, and he has so far hit six fours in his 101 ball knock of 49 not out.

He and Lasith Embuldeniya, who is yet to score, added a valuable 19 runs for the ninth wicket, to take the host to stumps at 250 for eight, still trailing by 104 runs with two wickets in hand.