West Indies Sri Lanka Test Series 
2nd Test Played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day Three  
West Indies 1st Innings 354 All Out in 111.1 Overs (Kraig Brathwaite 126, Kayle Mayers 49, Rakheem Cornwall 73, Suranga Lakmal 94, Dushmatha Chameera 3/69) 
Sri Lanka 250/8 in 103.1 Overs (Lahiru Thirimane 55, Pithun Nishanka 49*, Dinesh Chandimal 44, Dhananjaya de Silva 39, Jason Holder 2/39, Aljari Josef 2/64) 
West Indies lead by 104 Runs. 

Two evenly matched teams are now fighting out a tough battle at Sir Viv Richards stadium Antigua. Both teams showed resilience, batted deep. But at the end of day three West Indies appears in firm control. Rain affected the match on day three. West Indies Captain Kraig Braithwaite anchoring the innings with great patience scored 126. The big man Rakheem Cornwall coming to bat at number 8 scored 73. Encouraging to note that Rakheem is improving his batting after every match. The 8th wicket partnership adding 103 perhaps played the match and series defining innings. West Indies score of 354 now at sumps of day three appears match winning. Sri Lanka fighting with their full might reached 250/8, still 104 runs in arrears. 

One very heartening development is that West Indies and Sri Lanka so far in two tests have produced quality test match cricket. The teams having several youngsters have demonstrated maturity. After the see saw battled in the drawn first test Sri Lanka at one stage pushed home team back to the wall reducing them to 222/7. Lakmal and Chameera bowled exceedingly well. But captain Kraig Braithwaite remained the roadblock for the Lankans. Big bird Rakheem (worthy successor of Clive Lloyd) joining his captain batted with grits and guts. The pair producing a very useful 103 runs for the 8th wickets not only took West Indies out of woods but also laid the foundation for a probable win. Braithwaite scored his 9th test century 126 to be exact which may ultimately turn out as match winning efforts. Rakheem also impressed all with his 73. He is developing into a useful all-rounder which West Indies missed for several years. Lakmal with 4/94 and Chameera 3/ 69 were peak of Lankan bowling. 

Sri Lankans in their reply were encountered with   quality and diverse West Indian attack. Gabriel, Roach, Josef, Holder, Mayers, Rakheem. Several Lankans Thirimanne (50), Chandimal (44), Dhananjaya (39) got start but could not get going. Nishanka (49*) playing with the tail as Si Lanka finished rain interrupted day three at 250/8 still 104 runs behind.

If West Indies can wrap up Lankan innings quick and batting with purpose can set a target of 300 Sri Lanka may have to struggle to save the test.

BDST: 1327 HRS, APR 01, 2021
SMS