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ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Jun 19, CMC – Veteran batsman Dinesh Chandimal stood firm with an unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka reached 173 for four in their reply, trailing the West Indies Select XI by just 32 runs at the close of a rain-curtailed second day of their four-day warm-up fixture at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here on Friday.
After the entire morning session was washed out, play finally resumed at 1:30 pm under gloomy skies, with the tourists resuming on 38 for one in pursuit of the Select XI’s first-innings total of 205.
The hosts’ seam attack, led by the lively Keemo Paul, struck crucial blows to keep the contest finely poised, but Chandimal’s composed unbeaten 54 ensured Sri Lanka finished the day with wickets in hand and the deficit under control.
The resumption brought immediate drama for the Sri Lankans. Overnight batsman Nishan Madushka, who had looked assured on 25, added a fluent 21 runs to his tally before falling victim to a sharp Keemo Paul delivery.
In the 17th over, a good length ball angled into the middle and off stump forced Madushka into a defensive prod, but the ball struck his pad, and the umpire had no choice but to send him on his way.
Madushka departed for a solid 46 off 49 balls, having put on 40 runs for the second wicket with Chandimal, a partnership that had steadied the innings after the early loss of Lahiru Udara for seven.
Paul struck again in the 23rd over to send back Pasindu Sooriyabandara for 14. The Guyanese seamer found a good length outside off stump, and the delivery seamed back just enough to beat the bat and clatter into the stumps, leaving Sri Lanka wobbling at 96 for three.
Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva then joined Chandimal in a brisk rebuilding effort, and the pair added 59 vital runs for the fourth wicket.
De Silva looked in sublime touch, driving crisply through the covers on his way to a 40-ball 34. However, his enterprising knock was cut short by a probing spell from Alzarri Joseph, who induced a drive outside off stump that resulted in a catch to Jonathan Drakes.
De Silva’s dismissal at 155 for four brought Sonal Dinusha to the crease, and he saw out the remaining overs with five not out alongside the resolute Chandimal.
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