Windies staring defeat in Sri Lanka

The disrupted third day was finally abandoned after tea yesterday at the Singhalese Sports Club with the tourists reduced to 59 for six, giving them an overall lead of 117.

After the West Indies were dismissed for 285 in the first session Thursday, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 227.

Vaas kept Sri Lanka on track for a possible Test victory after extending his second innings haul to four wickets for 12 runs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul undefeated on 29 and Omari Banks who is yet to score, will attempt to stand firm Saturday against the Sri Lanka bowling attack. Less than 26 overs were possible yesterday as the West Indies, wobbling at 17-3 overnight, lost three more wickets under the heavy, overcast conditions that prevailed throughout the day and caused the start of play to be delayed until after lunch.

Play was delayed for a further 18 minutes due to bad light less than hour before tea.

When play eventually got underway, Vaas picked up the wicket of Narsingh Deonarine for seven, before trapping Dwayne Smith LBW for his second duck of the match in the next over. As with Runako Morton and Xavier Marshall, the West Indies batsmen have been unable to read the line that Vaas is bowling.

It was only when Vaas was rested that Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin managed to produce some runs and grind out a partnership of 27.

Ramdin became off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s third wicket of the match when he was trapped LBW for 11.

The West Indies is fielding a youthful team this tour after several senior players including Ramnarine Sarwan, Chris Gayle and world No. 1 batsman Brian Lara refused to tour Sri Lanka over a contract dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players’ Association make up lost time.