Sri Lanka in charge of first test against West Indies

Pathum Nissanka scored a century on debut and Niroshan Dickwella fell four runs short of a maiden Test ton as Sri Lanka took control of the first Test against the West Indies on the fourth day in Antigua.

Starting 102 runs behind on the first innings, Sri Lanka reached 476 in their second innings for a lead of 374.

Sri Lanka then made an important breakthrough in the 20 overs before stumps, Fernando dismissing John Campbell (11) to leave the West Indies 34/1, still 340 runs behind. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was 8 not out and Nkrumah Bonner 15.

The day began promisingly for the West Indies, who handed the second new ball to Alzarri Joseph instead of Kemar Roach. Joseph repaid the decision with a wicket from the fifth ball of the day, bowling Dhananjaya de Silva, who resumed on 46 and had just posted his eighth test halfcentury.

Nissanka and Dickwella came together and batted through almost all of the first and second sessions in a partnership which produced 179 runs for the sixth wicket.

Nissanka, 22, was patient and careful in his shot selection, reaching his half-century from 126 balls with five boundaries. Dickwella’s 50 came from 103 balls and included three boundaries.

Dickwella lived dangerously later in his innings, though. He was dropped by Bonner at gully off Jason Holder’s bowling when he was 44, chasing a short and wide delivery.

His cut shot went directly to Bonner at waist height but the fieldsman, off balance, dropped a simple chance.

On 74, Dickwella nicked a ball from Joseph down the leg side, directly to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, but the only appeal from the West Indies was a rather half-hearted one from the bowler.

Nissanka reached his 100 with an outside edge wide of slips, from 240 deliveries and with only six fours in a particularly watchful innings which steadily built Sri Lanka’s advantage. He is the fourth Sri Lankan to make a century on test debut and the first to do so outside Sri Lanka.

“I wasn’t aware of those records,” Nissanka said. “With the state of the game, the team needed me to perform and I’m glad to perform for the team.” —AP