Pathum Nissanka scored a century on debut as Sri Lanka amassed a commanding lead on the fourth day earlier than setting the West Indies a target of 375 to win the primary Test in Antigua. The 22-year-old Nissanka and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella spent most of Wednesday (March 24) on the crease in a 179-run partnership earlier than Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 476.
In reply, the West Indies had been 34-1 on the shut after shedding John Campbell for 11 with an uphill job going through them on a carrying pitch on the ultimate day. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite (eight not out) and Nkrumah Bonner (15 not out) will resume on Thursday (March 25).
Nissanka belied his lack of expertise with a affected person innings whereas Dickwella fell 4 runs wanting a maiden Test ton as Sri Lanka fought again after a 102-run first-innings deficit to take cost of the Test on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The West Indies did get the time off to an ideal begin as Alzarri Joseph castled Dhananjaya de Silva with the fifth ball of the morning, however not earlier than De Silva had gone to his half century with a boundary. It proved however a short second of celebration for the hosts, nevertheless, because the visitors dug in with Nissanka reaching his century, off 240 balls, simply earlier than tea.
The Windies needed to wait for greater than 50 overs for their subsequent wicket as Nissanka holed out for 103 and Dickwella adopted seven overs later, bowled by Kemar Roach agonisingly near his milestone.
Sri Lanka’s final three wickets fell for six runs to the reduction of an exhausted residence staff, who spent nearly two full days within the area. If the West Indies are to succeed in the target, it might be their third-highest profitable chase after scoring 395/7 towards Bangladesh in Chattogram final month and the 418 runs they amassed to beat Australia in 2003.
