Lawson, Best put WI ‘A’ in front

Lawson was the most successful West Indies "A" bowler with four wickets for 84 runs from 16.4 overs, and Best gave him support with three for 61 from 16 overs, as Sri Lanka "A" were dismissed for 258, replying to the visitors’ first innings total of 295.

When stumps were drawn on the second day, West Indies "A" were 113 for three in their second innings and leading by 150 with opening batsman Ryan Ramdass unbeaten on 52 and compatriot Narsingh Deonarine not out two.

Gayan Wijekoon removed Xavier Marshall and Windies "A" captain Daren Ganga, the two top scorers from the first innings, to put the visitors under some early pressure.

Marshall was adjudged leg before wicket for a second-ball duck, and Ganga was caught close to the wicket for 11 to leave West Indies "A" 16 for two.

Ramdass, who hit seven boundaries from 93 balls, and Marlon Samuels, who stroked five fours from 58 balls, halted the slide when they added 70 for the third wicket.

Samuels however, was needlessly run out just prior to the close before Ramdass jammed his foot down hard on the accelerator to reach his half-century.

Earlier, Lawson and Best bent their backs to extract what little life there was in the Rangiri Stadium pitch and put the Sri Lankans on the backfoot.

The hosts continued from their bedtime position of 68 for three and suffered an early setback when Best had captain Russel Arnold caught behind for five.

Prasanna Jayawardene came to the wicket and gathered the top score of 55 from 67 balls that included nine fours.

He added 73 for the fifth wicket with Malintha Gayanake, who hit eight fours in 44 from 98 balls before he became Lawson’s second scalp when he was caught at gully. Lawson then bowled Jayawardene to set Sri Lanka "A" back further, and had it not been for a gritty 44 that included a half-dozen fours and a six from 93 balls, the home team would have been worse off.

The two teams play three unofficial "Tests" and five unofficial limited-overs "internationals", as a forerunner to a senior international series between the two nations.

The senior West Indies side, likely to be captained by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, are expected in Colombo on July 6 for a series of two Tests against the Sri Lankans, and a three-nation limited-overs series with the hosts and India.

This, however, depends on a settlement to the contracts dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players’ Association.