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.
