Arnold stonewalls Windies ‘A’

The 31-year-old Arnold, who has played 44 Tests and 128 One-day Internationals in a chequered international career, was undefeated on 142 that helped his side reach 356 for six, in reply to West Indies "A" team’s first innings total of 253 when stumps were drawn on the second day.

"For me this innings was very important," remarked Arnold, who struck 18 boundaries from 22 balls in almost five hours of batting.

"To take the side through I had to bat it out, and I was able to do that. I just concentrated on batting, and not thinking of anything else. The rest took care of itself. The plan was to be able to bat throughout the day. "I worked out a lot of problems, and I am very comfortable at the crease. The main thing that I had to work on was to keep the distractions off me, and to be just light as possible to do what I want to do out there.

"The last 12 months it has been coming along beautifully. I could say that my game has peaked here. It is looking good at the moment."

Left-hander Arnold, who was under pressure after his side’s second innings batting collapse cost them the first Test, shared two vital stands that added substance to the Sri Lankans’ total. He added 72 for the fourth wicket with Shantha Kalavitigoda, whose 45 was ended when Dave Mohammed held a brilliant one-handed catch at backward point off Runako Morton to leave Sri Lanka "A" on 176 for four.

"Shantha did a really good job," Arnold said. "He held the innings together at the start, and it was very unfortunate from his point of view to have got out like that. I think he did a great job for his side. He batted so well at the other end that he made it easy for me to go in and get settled down."

Arnold then put on 151 for the sixth wicket with another left-hander Gayan Wijekoon, who hit eight fours in 62 off 12 balls before Morton again made the breakthough. Morton, who struck a hundred in the first innings of West Indies "A," had Wijekoon leg before wicket just prior to the close to end with figures of two wickets for 28 runs from eight overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka "A" had suffered an early setback, after they continued from their bedtime position of 63 for one.

Dwight Washington broke through in the first half hour, when he bowled Test batsman Michael Vandort for 27, and there was further success before lunch when Mohammed held a return catch to dismiss Malintha Gajanayake for 11 that left Sri Lanka "A" were 104 for three.

Arnold came to the wicket and anchored the partnership with Kalavitigoda before the latter was removed, and Prasanna Jayawardena was caught behind off Kerry Jeremy for ten to leave Sri Lanka "A" 205 for five.

West Indies "A" were unable to make headway for most of the afternoon and evening periods until Morton’s late strike separated Arnold and Wijekoon.

West Indies "A" lead the three-match series 1-0, after winning the opening "Test" at Dambulla by 57 runs. The series acts as a forerunner for the imminent senior international series between the two nations next month. The senior Sri Lanka and West Indies teams play two Tests before tackling India in a three-way limited-overs international competition.