Second Test delicately poised

KINGSTON: Fast bowler Prabath Nissanka snared five wickets yesterday as Sri Lanka and the West Indies traded blows on an enthralling second day in their decisive cricket Test. Powerfully-built Nissanka took five for 64 as the home team was bowled out for 191 in reply to Sri Lanka’s first day 208. But the West Indies’ inexperienced fast bowlers reduced the visitors’ second innings to 129 for five at the close, a tenuous lead of 146. The two-match series is level at 0-0 following the rain-ruined draw in St Lucia last Tuesday. The 22-year-old Nissanka, in only his fourth Test, gained good support from Muttiah Muralitharan, who took three for 23. The ace off-spinner claimed the prize wicket of captain Brian Lara, his 50th victim in just eight Tests against the West Indies. Nissanka dismissed both openers Chris Gayle (31) and Wavell Hinds (19) after the pair began the day well by adding 54 for the first wicket. Gayle deflected a catch to gully as he tried to leave a short ball, while Hinds edged a drive to the wicket-keeper in Nissanka’s next over. Lara (10) fell to Muralitharan at 85 for three just before lunch to tilt the balance to Sri Lanka. The champion left-hander was deceived by a straighter delivery and was plainly leg before. Ramnaresh Sarwan joint top-scored with 31, but left-armer Chaminda Vaas bowled him behind his legs as the middle order was brushed aside.

Nissanka returned to remove both Omari Banks (2) and Marlon Samuels (14) to low catches to captain Hashan Tillakaratne at first slip. At 123 for six, Sri Lanka seemed set for a substantial first-innings lead. But Vasbert Drakes clouted five fours in a career-best 30 off 47 balls to revive the lower order. He and left-hander Ridley Jacobs, who passed 2,000 Test runs, added 39 for the seventh wicket. Jacobs was eventually undone by another Muralitharan straighter ball to be leg before for 16. Kumar Dharamsena quickly removed Jerome Taylor (1) to a catch at cover. Muralitharan ended Drakes’ resistance by bowling him between bat and pad as he essayed an ambitious swing to leg. Nissanka fittingly rounded off the innings on the stroke of tea, as Corey Collymore (13) edged a short ball to third slip. Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in their second innings as a healthy crowd of 8,000 energised the home team during the gripping final session. Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya added 25 for the first wicket before Corey Collymore struck. The 25-year-old Barbadian claimed danger-man Jayasuriya (13) leg before. Collymore also removed first innings top-scorer Kumar Sangakkara (12) at 43 for two as the left-hander edged to the wicket-keeper. Mahela Jayawardene then shared successive stands of 37 and 38 with Atapattu and Romesh Kaluwitharana to stretch the lead past three figures.  But the West Indian youngsters Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards hit back toward the end of the day to leave the match on even keel. The 19-year-old Taylor finally claimed his first test wicket, as Atapattu (28) edged to Jacobs. Edwards rebounded after Kaluwitharana carted him for four fours in an over to claim the blossoming Jayawardene for 32. Taylor took two for 38 off ten overs on the trot. Collymore claimed two for 26 and Edwards, a five-wicket hero on Friday, grabbed one for 38.