Morton steps up with 114

In an innings he described as his best, the 26-year-old Morton hit the top score of 114 to revive West Indies "A" before they were dismissed for 253 in the first innings.

Sri Lanka reached 63 for one when stumps were drawn on the opening day, after Morton, in particular, and left-hander Narsingh Deonarine, who scored 54, rescued the visitors from a wretched start with a century partnership.

Choosing to bat, West Indies "A" slumped to 68 for four, but Morton and Deonarine transformed the innings with a fifth-wicket stand of 106.

"It was not an easy wicket to bat on," remarked Morton, who struck 14 fours and a pair of sixes from 186 balls in a shade over three and a half hours.

"Some balls kept low and some high, but I am happy I did it for the team when they were in some kind of trouble. It is not a total that one would expect on the first day of a match, but it is better than what it was."

Deonarine gave Morton solid support in a near two-hour long stay at the crease before he was caught at short leg off Sajeewa Weerakoon after hitting eight fours and one six from 93 balls.

Weerakoon continued to torment the West Indies "A" batsmen. He followed up his good bowling in the first "Test" with three wickets for 78 runs from 19 overs to give him 11 wickets so far in the series and identify him as a strong candidate for higher intensity tussles with the senior West Indies squad.

West Indies "A" were in strife from early, when they slid to 29 for two inside the first half-hour. They lost the wickets of openers Ryan Ramdass for six and Xavier Marshall for 22 to catches to the wicketkeeper off Nuwan Zoysa and Gayan Wijekoon respectively.

West Indies "A" captain Daren Ganga and Marlon Samuels staged a partial recovery, but they were both removed in the space of 31 balls to leave the visitors in a state of panic. Morton, whose career appeared to have been at the crossroads four years ago, and Deonarine calmed the nerves of their teammates with some resolute batting, much to the delight of coach Ian Allen.