Windies routed, Sri Lanka XI on top

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: West Indies had a dreadful start to their Sri Lanka tour when they were dismissed cheaply on the opening day of their two-day match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescript Cricket Club yesterday. Batting first after winning the toss, the regional side crashed to 110 all out at tea with all-rounder Omari Banks, one of the late call ups to the squad, top-scoring with 18. By the close, Sri Lanka had replied strongly with 152 for one with senior team captain Marvan Atapattu closing in on a century with an unbeaten 78. The West Indies, fielding a depleted squad after the bulk of the first-choice team refused to sign match/tour contracts, never recovered from a nightmare start and lost wickets steadily.

The rout begun when Ryan Ramdass was run out without scoring by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end by Upul Tharanga, with the score on ten. Fellow opener Xavier Marshall (10) then edged fast medium bowler Pradeep Jayaprakash to second slip where Kumar Sangakkara held a good catch to leave the Windies tottering on ten for two. Runako Morton and Sylvester Joseph then eased the Windies’ worries temporarily with a third wicket stand of 30 before each fell within seven runs of each other. The right-handed Morton had occupied the crease for just over an hour for his 17 when he played back to left arm spinner Rangana Herath and was adjudged LBW. With the score on 47, Joseph essayed a big drive off leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi but only succeeded in lofting a catch to deep mid off to be out for 11.

West Indies found themselves further in the mire when attacking batsman Dwayne Smith was bowled by fast medium bowler Charith Jayaweera without scoring, to leave them at 49 for five. Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, on his first senior West Indies tour, consolidated to steer the West Indies to 67 for five at lunch with Chanderpaul, batting with his usual application to reach 15 and Ramdin, four. On resumption, the Windies skipper failed to add to his score as he miscued a pull off Jayaprakash to be caught by the fielder running around from cover, after he had batted for 64 minutes, faced 53 balls and struck two fours. Ramdin followed soon after for six with the score on 75 for seven and it was then left up to Banks and Deighton Butler to salvage what they could at the end.

Banks, who has played eight Tests, batted 63 minutes and faced 52 balls while striking two fours while Butler’s 13 needed 72 minutes and 62 balls, and included two fours. Lokuarachchi accounted for Butler and Kerry Jeremy, both LBW victims, to finish with three for 15 while Herath took three for 23. Atapattu, seeking much needed form after a three-month break, tore into the West Indies bowling and added 96 for the first wicket with Tharanga who scored 41 before falling LBW to Banks. He batted a shade under two hours, faced 81 balls and struck five fours. Atapattu, who has so far hammered 12 fours in an innings lasting 178 minutes and 118 balls, then added an unbroken 56 for the second wicket with Sangakkara to further frustrate the West Indies. Sangakkara was unbeaten on 25 from 43 balls with three fours.