Rain washes out play after West Indies avoid follow-on

West Indies fought back strongly to pass the follow on mark and build up their innings to 224 for nine wickets on third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka before rain washed off more than half of the day’s play yesterday at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

The low order batters especially the seventh wicket 63 runs stand between Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder and later ninth wicket 49 runs stand between Rahkeem Cornwall and Joshua Da Silva made a good effort to build up their innings. Sri Lanka’s bowling was loose during the first hour and spinners unable to find the right lengths to both overnight batters Mayer’s and Holder and they took full advantage to collect their runs.

They had taken their seventh-wicket combination up to 63 in the first hour.

However, two outstanding catches first by skipper Dimuth Karunaratne at short extra cover and then Dushmantha Chameera at point removed both Mayers and Holder in quick session. The partnership breaker Dhananjaya de Silva got days first breakthrough to end Mayers 45 runs Innings in 62 balls which included eight boundaries while Holder was out two overs later with taking superb diving catch from Dushmantha Chameera at point off the bowling of Praveen Jayawickrama. Holder scored 36 in 60 balls hitting three fours and two sixes.

Rahkeem Cornwall the off-spinner who hit two consecutive fifties against Sri Lanka at the previous two Tests at Antigua once again played a fighting knock while wicket keeper Joshua Da Silva played a good supporting role for the ninth wicket stand until lunch break and West Indies were 215 for eight wickets with Cornwall remaining at 33 .

Cornwall scored 39 in 58 balls hit five fours and a six was more aggressive mood while Joshua Da Silva made an unbeaten 11 in 70 ball innings hit only boundary to control the bowlers. However Cornwall was out off the bowling of Suranga Lakmal and Ramesh Mendis took a fine catch at mid wicket to dismiss last ball of the fourth over after lunch and ground staff was called into action with a rain and weather not gave any excuse to continue the game .

That left West Indies still 162 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first-innings total, with just one wicket in hand

Ramesh Mendis, along with Praveen Jayawickrama have been Sri Lanka’s most effective bowlers in the innings with the pair accounting for three wickets apiece while Lasith Embuldeniya, Dhananjaya de Silva and Suranga Lakmal pick one wicket each .

The game has been called off due to a drizzle and subsequent bad light around 4.30 pm yesterday and play will start 15 minutes early (9.45 a.m) on both the 4th and 5th day.