Rain halts Sri Lanka push in final test

Friday, 3 December 2010 00:23 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

  • Sri Lanka take two wickets before rain halts play
  • Nash unbeaten on 62
  • West Indies close on 244 for five

KANDY, (Reuters) - Sri Lanka grabbed two West Indies wickets in the afternoon session before rain washed out play for the rest of the second day in the third and final test at Pallakele on Thursday.

A fisheye view of the tarp-covered outfield is seen after rain stopped play during the second day of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Pallekele International cricket Stadium in Pallekele yesterday. The West Indies were 244-5 in their first innings when rain stopped play on the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka

The visitors lost Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 54 and Dwayne Bravo for a duck before the weather intervened. When play was called off at 3.35 local time West Indies were 244 for five.

Brendan Nash was unbeaten on 62 and Carlton Baugh nought not out.

Only 32 minutes play was possible after lunch. On the opening day just 40 overs were bowled.

Sri Lanka ended a 99-run fourth-wicket stand between Chanderpaul and Nash when the former’s 145-ball innings was halted by a brilliant slip catch from Mahela Jayawardene off spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Seven balls later spinner Rangana Herath removed Bravo with a sharply turning ball, courtesy of a smart stumping by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. The wicket of Darren Bravo was all Sri Lanka had to show for their morning’s work as West Indies reached 229 for three at lunch.

He added five runs to his overnight 63 before Dilhara Fernando trapped him lbw in the fourth over.

Bravo asked for a referral but the ball looked as if it was going to hit middle and leg stump.

Nash reached his half-century before the break off 74 balls while Chanderpaul played the anchor role.

Chanderpaul survived a reverse sweep off Herath on 38. The umpire ruled him out leg before but the batsman successfully challenged the decisio with the replay showing the ball clearly hit his gloves.

The series is tied at 0-0 after two draws.

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