Unknown destroys Sri Lankans

KINGSTON: West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was plucked from virtual obscurity for his Test debut, blazed a sensational trail yesterday with five wickets to destroy Sri Lanka’s first innings in the decisive second cricket Test.

The 21-year-old claimed five for 36 off 15.4 overs, including a sizzling spell of four for eight with the second new ball to floor the visitors. The West Indies could even afford the luxury of four dropped catches as Sri Lanka, sent in, were bowled out for 208 just before the close. The home team reached four without loss in reply off two overs. Left-hander Kumar Sangakkara, benefiting from two let-offs, hit ten fours in a topscore of 75 off 212 balls in 272 minutes. Fellow pacer Corey Collymore (two for 28) and off-spinner Omari Banks (two for 31) gave Edwards keen support. Edwards, a pacer with a slinging action reminiscent of the great Australian Jeff Thomson, became the eighth West Indian bowler to take five wickets on debut.

West Indies skipper Brian Lara was the man behind Edwards’ rapid rise to the team, despite him taking just one wicket in his only other First-Class match in 2002. Lara was impressed by the pacey prospect in his net sessions with the team before the Barbados Test against Australia last May and was the mastermind behind the selection. Sri Lanka began well with openers Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya adding 38 for the first wicket. But Corey Collymore, from the same northern Barbados village of Boscobel as Edwards, made the crucial first strike after an hour. Jayasuriya smacked five boundaries in 26 off 37 balls when he was deceived by a slower ball and deflected a leg side catch to wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs.

Edwards’ first over at the higher level should have reaped reward as Atapattu clipped his fifth ball to square leg but Banks dropped a straightforward chance. It was not to prove costly, as Vasbert Drakes struck one run later as Atapattu (15) edged to Chris Gayle at second slip at 48 for two. Edwards finally gained his first wicket on the stroke of lunch to break an emerging stand of 29 between Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Jayawardene fended a bouncer to second slip where Gayle went left-handed to pluck an excellent, low catch inches off the turf. Banks sliced through the Sri Lankan middle order with vital strikes after lunch to remove captain Hashan Tillakaratne (13) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (10).

Tillakaratne prodded a catch to first slip, while Kaluwitharana’s inside edge deflected off Jacobs to a diving Marlon Samuels at backward short leg. Collymore returned to remove Kumar Dharmasena (6) to another Samuels catch at gully as the visitors limped to tea at 141 for six. But Sangakkara and fellow left-hander Chaminda Vaas boosted the innings with a stand of 52 for the seventh wicket. Once Edwards returned with the second new ball, the innings quickly folded. Sangakkara fell to the first delivery, plumb leg before playing no stroke to an inswinger. Thilan Thushara, also on debut, clouted a couple of meaty fours in 11 off 15 balls before Edwards brought a swift end. Thushara edged to Lara at first slip, Muttiah Muralitharan was bowled by a brilliant outswinger and last man Prabath Nissanka edged to second slip. Chris Gayle (three not out) and Wavell Hinds (one not out) safely negotiated two overs to the close.