Rahkeem Cornwall blasted a first half-century test and dominated an eighth 90 wicket partnership with Joshua da Silva to take the West Indies to 268 for eight in their first innings, a 99-point lead, at the end of the second day of the first test against Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua on Monday. Suranga Lakmal’s exceptional bowling, which won its fourth round of five innings in 64 tests, had limited the home side to 171 for seven just after tea in response to the tourists’ modest day one effort of 169.
However, the beefy Cornwall, selected primarily for his off-spin bowling but also well known for his powerful strikes in the domestic game, joined wicket keeper da Silva to withstand the best efforts of Sri Lankan bowlers ahead of s ‘open to a range of players. expansive shots at the arrival of the second new ball.
His undefeated 60 came from 79 balls with two sixes and nine fours to spruce up an entertaining round.
Da Silva, who has already built a reputation in his young international career for participating in useful lower-order partnerships, was in preparation for his second half-century test when he fell for 46 minutes at penalty before the end of the game, caught up quickly. melon Dushmantha Chameera trying to mount a lifting delivery on the slip cord.
“I needed to get some runs because I haven’t shown the best I can do with the stick so far,” said Cornwall, reflecting on his sleeves. “I think we’re in a very good position at this point in the game. We have to come tomorrow and try to make the most of the first hour, and then we can organize the game having something to run against them in the second set.
Such a healthy advantage seemed out of the realm of possibility with Lakmal booming on the way to the standout five-for-45 over 24 precise overs.
When he fired Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in quick succession after tea to complete the five-wicket transport, the Sri Lankans may have even considered cutting a minimal deficit from the first innings before the day’s end.
But their enthusiasm gradually wore off as the races flowed and they now face a tough prospect on day three to mount the kind of second round rearguard that has been almost nonexistent on one race. miserable man who has seen them lose their last four tryouts. .
There were only smiles on the faces of the Sri Lankans at the start of the day as Lakmal valued West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite without any additions to the night’s total.
He returned on a scorching afternoon to get Jermaine Blackwood cheaply through the inside rim gate, then account for dangerous Kyle Mayers for 45 thanks to a second slip hold by Dhananjaya de Silva.
Mayers had punctuated long stretches of near-stroke absence with thrilling powerful strikes, hitting six fours and two sixes up his innings before the seasoned couturier took over.
John Campbell made an unusually stubborn shot of 42, with the left-handed opener taking 148 deliveries to get to 42 before becoming Chameera’s first wicket of the day, although he should have fired Nkrumah Bonner in the lead-up to the day. lunch when the batsman in favor of the third slip was called off by a no-ball.
Promoted
Campbell and Bonner went 56 for the second wicket after Brathwaite’s demise, but they needed other moments of good fortune to survive against a persistent and varied bowling attack.
‘Man of the series’ during his debut campaign in Bangladesh a month earlier, Bonner finally fell for 31 points just before lunch, judged in the front leg when he missed an attempt to shoot a short ball from the spinner. left arm Lasith Embuldeniya.
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