ANTIGUA: Despite solid centuries from Justin Greaves and Shai Hope, Sri Lanka tightened their grip on a 142-run lead at the end of day four at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound in the second Test against the West Indies.
Playing again with Greaves and Hope after their impressive stand on day three, the West Indies continued to disappoint the visitors.
Hope scored his fifth Test century and first on home soil, while Greaves completed his third Test century.
However, just before lunch Sri Lanka smashed the marathon mark of 242 runs in extraordinary fashion. Hope left a leg-side delivery, but as the wicketkeeper failed to collect the ball cleanly, it drove his gloves into the stumps, leaving Hope outside his crease, resulting in a freak dismissal.
Greaves battled alongside captain Roston Chase, but Sri Lanka’s pace attack eventually took control. Asita Fernando created a hostile atmosphere, dismissing Chase with a short ball, removing Anderson Phillips and Shamar Joseph to complete the five-wicket haul.
As the West Indies were bowled out for 499, 50 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first innings score, Alsari removed Joseph and brought in Milan Ratnayake. Greaves remained unbeaten with a magnificent 180 runs.
The West Indies pulled back early in Sri Lanka’s second innings, with Shamar Joseph caught for a four-ball duck by Lahiru Udara lbw before Alsari Joseph dismissed Nishan Madushka, reducing the visitors to 32/2.
Experienced batsman Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings with an unbeaten 60-run partnership.
Chandimal was unbeaten on 40 off 66 balls while Kamindu’s aggressive 30 off 35 balls with 3 fours and a six helped Sri Lanka reach 92/2 at stumps.