West Indies VS Sri Lanka Test Series 
1st Test Day Two Played at Sir IVA Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps
Srilanka 1st Innings 169 All Out in 69.4 Overs (Lahiru Thirimanne 70, Niroshan Dickwala 32, Jason Holder 5/27, Kemar Roach 3/47) 
West Indies 268 /8 in 101 Overs (Rakheem Cornwall 62, Jashua De Silva 46, Kayle Mayers 45, John Campbell 42, Nkrumah Bonner 31, Suranga Lakmal 5/45, Dushmantha Chameera 2/ 71) 
West Indies Leads by 99 runs with 2 first Innings Wickets at hand.

Brilliant 90 runs 8th wicket partnership by heavyweight Caribbean Rakheem Cornwall (60*) and impressive Jashua de Silva (46) led West Indies to a match defining 98 runs lead at stumps of day two. Responding to Srilankan innings of 167 all out West Indies finished day two at 276/8. Lakmal and Chameera bowling exceedingly well did not let West Indies batting Sri Lanka completely out of the match. 

But batting on Sir Richards Stadium looking increasingly difficult. The wicket is turning and gripping and oddballs are keeping low. It may be too early to conclude yet the way the test has been played so far West Indies looks like heading towards a win. 

West Indies started the day at 13/0. In no time Lakmal removed captain Braithwaite without any addition to overnight score. Campbell and Bonner defied very impressive Sri Lankan attack posting 56 for the second wicket partnership. Lakmal was very accurate and penetrative. Sri Lanka taking wickets at regular interval ran through West Indies middle order. At 7/171 West Indies was only four runs in front. Rakheem and Da Silva produced the match defining 8th wicket partnership of 90. Jashua Da Silva after resisting Lankans for 124 deliveries fell to Chammera scoring 46. Rakheem looked fluent and silky striking 9 effortless fours and 2 outrageous sixes. He finished 60 not out being the first Antiguan scoring half century at Sir Richards ground. Kayle Mayers who single handedly broke the dreams of many Bangladeshis at Chattogram scoring a dream double hundred on debut also looked good scoring 45, Campbell scored 42 and Bonner 31. Lakmal bowled exceedingly well taking 5/45. 

From here on, West Indies looks like the winner. But Sri Lanka is not out of the match yet. They must wrap the West Indies innings as soon as possible on day three. They have to bat out of their skins. First, they have to wipe off the 100 plus runs deficit. If they can take about 200 runs lead it will be game on. 

BDST: 1223 HRS, MAR 23, 2021
SMS