WI vs SL, 2nd Test – Day 2, Review: Kraigg Brathwaite's century keeps West Indies on top

West Indies started their day on 287 for 7. With the second ball of the day, the hosts’ skipper Kraigg Brathwaite notched up his ninth Test hundred and first since July 2018. After battling out on day one, Brathwaite got to the landmark early on day two as his side continued piling on runs. Rahkeem Cornwall, who had batted briskly on day one, marched along to his second successive Test fifty.

However, Cornwall’s aggressive batting was met with an unfortunate end as he was dismissed by Suranga Lakmal for 73. The partnership between Cornwall and Brathwaite by then was 103 runs, which could just turn out to be match-winning. Skipper Brathwaite ensured that the West Indies went past the 350-run mark, eventually getting bowled out for 354.

As far as Sri Lankan bowling is concerned, Lakmal was once again the pick of the bowlers, finishing with inning figures of 4 for 94. Dushmantha Chameera picked up three wickets, including the prized scalp of Brathwaite. Vishwa Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya and Dhananjaya de Silva chipped in with one wicket each.

Lahiru Thirimanne’s fifty headlines for Sri Lanka on day two

The visitors didn’t get off to a good start, losing their captain Dimuth Karunaratne for just one to Alzarri Joseph in the ninth over of the innings. Oshada Fernando and in-form Lahiru Thirimanne went about stitching a partnership of their own, but they could only push the score till 64. Fernando was dismissed for 18 by Kyle Mayers who caught him in front of the stumps to get an lbw.

Soon after this, Thirimanne reached his ninth Test fifty but was soon cleaned by Kemar Roach. The left-handed batsman was dismissed for 55 as Dinesh Chandimal was joined by Dhananjaya de Silva. Together the two right-handed batsmen went about their business trying to get some runs on the board for their side.

Their unbeaten 59 run-stand ensured that the visitors didn’t lose any more wickets, ending the day with 136 for 3 on the board. Chandimal will start his innings on day three from a score of 34 while de Silva will accompany him being on 23 runs. The visitors still trail by 218 runs and would aim to bring that down first on day three.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka – 136 for 3 (L Thirimanne 55, D Chandimal 34*, Dhananjaya de Silva 23*; K Mayers 1/6) trail by West Indies – 354 (K Brathwaite 126, R Cornwall 73; S Lakmal 4/94)