Stumps, Day 3: Sri Lanka 308 & 15 for 1 (Rajitha 4*, Madushka 2*, Seales 1-5) trail West Indies 626 for 9 dec. (Jangoo 233, Chase 194, Rathnayaka 5-124) by 303 runs
The West Indies are in control of the first Test against Sri Lanka after getting to stumps on Day 3, 303 runs ahead.
The Caribbean side began the day still 37 runs adrift of the visitors’ first innings’ 308 and batted all but the final 20 minutes of the evening session to build a first innings lead of 318.
Thanks to a sublime double century from Amir Jangoo (233) and a career-best 194 from skipper Roston Chase, the hosts racked up 626 before declaring with 9 wickets down.
Jangoo and Chase shared in the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Test history (401) to put the West Indies in the driver’s seat.
The pair took advantage of the continued absence of pacer Lahiru Kumara, who went off injured on Day 3 to bat 100.2 overs for what is also the second-highest partnership for West Indies behind Garfield Sobers and Conrad Hunte.
“I think it was an amazing day,” said West Indies’ Jangoo, who was emotional after bringing up his double.
Ireland 129 for 4 (Prendergast 63, Hunter 28; Munisar 2-28) beat West Indies 128 for 7 (Henry 27*, Matthews 22; Murray 2-13) by 6 wickets
The West Indies have advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup despite a sublime Orla Prendergast’s half-century that helped Ireland claim their first-ever win in the competition.
Ireland chased down 129 to win by six wickets, but England’s 9-wicket win over New Zealand in the late game meant West Indies secured a top-two finish.
The Windies did at least keep the chase going long enough to ensure that they stayed ahead of Sri Lanka in the table, ending the semi-final hopes of Chamari Athapaththu’s side.
Ireland put the West Indies in and the returning Qiana Joseph got off to a quick start with two boundaries in the first over but she paid the price for that approach when she top-edged a sweep straight to the fielder off Aimee Maguire (2/22).
Arlene Kelly then removed Shemaine Campbelle for four and the West Indies were struggling to time the ball as boundaries proved hard to come by.
Windies trail by 37 runs with sightings of variable bounce
Stumps, Day 2: West Indies 271 for 5 (Jangoo 78*, Chase 42*; Fernando 2-25) trail Sri Lanka 308 all out (de Silva 120, Chandimal 54; Greaves 3-39) by 37 runs
The West Indies have positioned themselves to build a first innings lead after ending Day 2 of the first Test trailing Sri Lanka by just 37 runs with five wickets in hand.
A century stand between Amir Jangoo and captain Roston Chase lifted the Caribbean side from 168 for 5 to 271 without further loss at stumps, responding to 308 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.
If Thursday’s opening day was marred by inconsistency from the West Indies fast bowlers, then Day 2 was a highlight reel of impatience from the Caribbean batters, with Jangoo as the outlier.
The left-hander was circumspect on his way to a maiden Test match fifty, which he fashioned into an unbeaten 78 at stumps. He first shared in a 52-run stand for the fourth wicket with Joshua Da Silva before partnering with Chase – whose 42 not out is his highest score in 16 innings – for a tide-turning unbroken 103-run stay.
The pair batted the entirety of the final session, negotiating variable bounce and defying a determined and largely disciplined Sri Lankan attack, earning the right to return to the crease on Day 3.
Stumps, Day 1: West Indies 0 without loss trail Sri Lanka 308 all out (de Silva 120, Chandimal 54; Greaves 3-39) by 308 runs
Pacers err short as Da Silva spills three chances
The West Indies prised five wickets in the final session to dismiss Sri Lanka for 308 on Thursday’s opening day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda. Justin Greaves was the pick of the Caribbean bowlers (3/39), with all three of his wickets coming post-lunch.
Opener John Campbell then faced Asitha Fernando’s lone over with Brandon King as a spectator at the other end, as the hosts ended the day without losing a wicket.
Among Greaves’ successes was the big scalp of captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who fell after constructing a brilliant 120. de Silva’s knock helped his team to their highest score on the first day of a Test against the West Indies.
The Sri Lankan top and middle-order countered each breakthrough with a crucial partnership, admittedly aided by the West Indian seamers’ struggles with lengths throughout the day.
The veteran Kemar Roach began proceedings by having Pathum Nissanka taken at short leg by Amir Jangoo with the final delivery of the first over of the contest for his 295th Test wicket.
Jayden Seales reacts to a dropped catch (AFP/Getty Images)
England 186 for 7 (Wyatt-Hodge 65, Knight 43; Munisar 2-42) beat West Indies 148 for 5 (Henry 51*, Claxton 21; Dean 2-31) by 38 runs
The West Indies’ hopes of advancing to the semi-final stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup suffered a setback following a 38-run loss to England at Lord’s today.
The Caribbean side were unable to keep up with the required run-rate, only managing 148 for 5 in their chase of 187, despite Chinelle Henry's half-century.
It was all action in the powerplay, after the West Indies had won the toss and elected to field. Amy Jones (8) struck two quick boundaries but was dismissed in the first over by Henry.
Wyatt-Hodge took Henry’s next over for 17 as the seamer struggled to adjust to the Lord’s slope in the West Indies’ first-ever game at the Home of Cricket.
