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Gabriel's 10-wicket haul sets up thrilling final day

Published:Sunday | June 17, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Windies bowler Shannon Gabriel (left) celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis on the fourth day of their second Test at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia, yesterday.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

Windies Speedster Shannon Gabriel snatched a career-best six-wicket haul to take 10 wickets in a Test for the first time, but Sri Lanka resisted stubbornly to set up an intriguing final day of the second Test today.

Floundering on 48 for four after resuming yesterday's penultimate day on 34 for one in their second innings, Sri Lanka rallied to end on 334 for eight - a handy lead of already 287 runs.

They owed their revival to the classy Kusal Mendis, who stroked a delightful 87 while wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella carved out 62 and Roshen Silva, 48.

Captain Dinesh Chandimal, controversially charged late Saturday by the International Cricket Council with altering the condition of the ball, contributed 39 to follow up his unbeaten hundred in the first innings.

However, it was Gabriel who stole the headlines with a spell of six for 57, which gave him 11 wickets so far in the contest and has left him just two shy of 100 wickets in his Test career.

 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

 

With Sri Lanka in command at 298 for six with Dickwella and Silva involved in a productive 99-run stand for the seventh wicket, it was the outstanding Gabriel who returned to remove both in the space of 12 deliveries to tilt the encounter the Windies' way yet again.

Crucially, though, tail-enders Akila Dananjaya (16 not out) and Suranga Lakmal (seven not out) then frustrated the hosts, so far adding 27 for the ninth wicket in a stand that had already taken half-hour out of the game.

Resuming the day still 13 runs in deficit, Sri Lanka endured a nightmare first hour when they lost a further three wickets to teeter on the brink of collapse.

Gabriel struck with the fourth delivery of the day when he trapped night-watchman Kasun Rajitha plumb low for a duck, and, three overs later, had Dhananjaya De Silva caught at first slip for three by Devon Smith.

Seamer Kemar Roach, who ended with two for 75, claimed his first scalp of the day when left-handed opener Mahela Udawatte (19) drove tamely to mid-off, where Devendra Bishoo held a simple catch.

Mendis and Chandimal, both with hundreds under their belts in the series, then came together in a key fourth wicket stand of 117 for the fifth wicket, which saw the visitors safely to lunch on 136 for four.

Both batsmen, though, were gifted lives through the Windies' indiscipline with no-balls. Captain Jason Holder was the first to offer charity to the visitors, when Mendis, on 14, was caught behind down the leg-side only for umpire Aleem Dar to nullify the dismissal with a call of no-ball.

Gabriel then followed up with a similar indiscretion when he drew Chandimal into an ill-advised cut and had him caught at gully only for the dismissal to be overturned following a TV replay of the delivery.

If West Indies were scenting a quick end to the innings, they were disappointed as Dickwella and Silva came together to marshal the innings.

Left-hander Dickwella hammered seven fours in a breezy 70-ball knock, while Silva opted for the sheet anchor role, counting just two fours in an innings spanning 115 deliveries and 2 3/4 hours.

By the time Gabriel had Silva brilliantly caught one-handed down the leg-side by Dowrich and claimed Dickwella to a catch at cover by Kieran Powell, the close was already beckoning, and Dananjaya and Lakmal held firm to extend the Windies' frustration.

 

SCOREBOARD

 

SRI LANKA 1st Innings 253

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 300

SRI LANKA 2nd Innings

(overnight 34 for one)

K Perera c wkp Dowrich b Gabriel 20

M Udawatte c Bishoo b Roach 19

K Rajitha lbw b Gabriel 0

D de Silva c Smith b Gabriel 3

K Mendis b Gabriel 87

*D Chandimal c wkp Dowrich b Roach 39

R Silva c wkp Dowrich b Gabriel 48

+N Dickwella c Powell b Gabriel 62

A Dananjaya not out 16

S Lakmal not out 7

Extras (b12, lb8, w3, nb10) 33

TOTAL (8 wkts, 89 overs) 334

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-34, 3-44, 4-48, 5-165, 6-199, 7-298, 8-307.

Bowling: Roach 20-3-75-2, Gabriel 19-5-57-6, Holder 15-5-38-0, Cummins 13-1-44-0, Bishoo 11-0-58-0, Chase 10-1-38-0, Brathwaite 1-0-4-0.

Position: Sri Lanka lead by 287 runs with two wickets intact.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Ian Gould; TV - Richard Kettleborough.