Kieran Powell struck six boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten knock of 64
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
West Indies batsman Kieran Powell scored an unbeaten 64 to push his side’s lead to 360 after the bowling attack bowled Sri Lanka out for 185 on the third day of the first Test in Trinidad.
Starting off the day on 31/3, Sri Lanka only added 12 runs to their score before Roshen Silva was clean bowled by Kemar Roach for five runs.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella stabilised the innings after the early blow as they forged a 78-run partnership before Chandimal was caught by Roston Chase at point off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel for 44.
Dickwella went on to make 31 before he was run out by Kraigg Brathwaite.
Sri Lanka began to collapse after Dickwella’s dismissal and even though Dilruwan Perera put up a fight with his knock of 20, the tourists ended up being skittled out for 185, which gave the West Indies a 229-run lead.
Miguel Cummins was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, Roach and Gabriel snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Devendra Bishoo and West Indies skipper Jason Holder, they chipped in with one wicket each.
With a 229-run lead in hand, the West Indies made a disappointing start to their second innings as opener Devon Smith was cleaned up by Suranga Lakmal for 20.
Brathwaite, who opened the batting with Smith, managed to score 16 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara.
Shai Hope only made one run before he became Kumara’s second victim.
Powell and Chase stalled Sri Lanka’s charge with a 44-run stand before Chase was clean bowled by Rangana Herath for 12.
Powell and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich ensured the West Indies didn’t lose anymore wickets as they amassed an unbeaten 12-run partnership.
Powell finished on 64 off 80 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes, while Dowrich remained undefeated on 11 off 28 deliveries, which included a solitary boundary.
Kumara was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Herath and Lakmal claimed one wicket each.
The West Indies ended day three on 131/4 and will continue batting on Saturday at 10:00 local time or 14:00 GMT.