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Sri Lanka struggle in first Windies Test

The West Indies grabbed three wickets in the morning session to boost their chances of gaining a big lead in the opening Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Sri Lanka lost former captain Mahela Jayawardene (59), Thilan Samaraweera (52) and Angelo Mathews (27) before reaching 264-6 in their first innings at lunch on the penultimate day in reply to the West Indies’ 580-9 declared.

Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 20 at the break with the hosts needing 117 more runs to avoid the follow-on with four wickets in hand.

Mathews, who survived on 24 when debutant paceman Andrew Russell failed to hold on to a return catch, fell in the last over before lunch, caught by skipper Darren Sammy at leg-slip off spinner Shane Shillingford.

Sri Lanka added 99 runs to their overnight total of 165-3 for the loss of the three key wickets in the extended session.

The West Indies struck early in the morning when fast bowler Kemar Roach had Jayawardene caught behind for his second success of the innings.

Jayawardene, dropped by Dwayne Bravo at leg-slip off Shillingford when on 54, failed to make the most of the chance as he fell a few overs later.

The former skipper, who added just eight to his overnight score of 51, put on 61 for the fourth wicket with Samaraweera.

Samaraweera, 11 overnight, executed some handsome shots in the opening hour, once hitting three successive fours off Shillingford. But he fell soon after reaching his 24^th Test half-century, run out while backing up at the non-striker’s end.

Mathews straight-drove seamer Dwayne Bravo and the ball hit the bowler’s boot before deflecting on to the stumps, with Samaraweera out of the crease. The Sri Lankan hit six fours in his 74-ball knock.

The West Indies bowlers kept it tight, with Roach so far bagging two wickets while Russell, Dwayne Bravo and Shillingford have taken one wicket apiece.