Sri Lanka spinners Ramesh Mendis and Lasith Embuldeniya have bowled their team to the verge of a convincing win in the first Test over the West Indies in Galle
Match Report:
ScorecardSri Lanka spinning towards Windies win
Sri Lanka have taken complete control of the first Test against the West Indies, with the visitors ending the fourth day at 6-52 while chasing an unlikely target of 348.
The visitors collapsed to 6-18 at one point in their second innings on Wednesday before a partial revival.
Spinners Ramesh Mendis and Lasith Embuldeniya took the initiative after the hosts had declared their second innings at 4-191.
Sri Lanka are just four wickets away from victory on a turning pitch at Galle International Stadium, with West Indies unlikely to bat out the final day.
STUMPS on day four. Play is called off early due to bad light.🔦 Sri Lanka need four wickets to win tomorrow, Windies need 296 runs. #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/PWPxt3rURI%E2%80%94 Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) November 24, 2021
Sri Lanka had won the toss and scored 386 in their first innings, West Indies replying with 230 - conceding a 156-run lead - after resuming on Wednesday on 9-224.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored 83 to follow his 147 in the first innings, while Angelo Mathews hit two sixes and six boundaries in his 69 not out.
Excluding a bizarre first innings hit-wicket dismissal for Sri Lanka batter Dhananjaya de Silva, it has been a near perfect Test for the hosts who should wrap up the match early on day five.
What an unfortunate way to lose your wicket! Dhananjaya who was looking good for a ton, somehow manages to disturb the woodwork with his bat in his attempt to swat the ball away. Watch the @windiescricket tour of @OfficialSLC, LIVE, 🗓 21st Nov 🕙 10am Onwards 📺 Sony SIX pic.twitter.com/LVUw3Eajdu%E2%80%94 Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) November 22, 2021
West Indies' second-innings collapse began when off-spinner Mendis trapped West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite lbw without scoring in the fourth over.
Mathews took a brilliant catch diving forward at mid-on soon after to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood (9) off left-arm spinner Embuldeniya.
When Mendis bowled Jason Holder for a golden duck with a delivery that went straight on, the West Indies plummeted to 6-18.
Nkrumah Bonner (18 not out) and Joshua Da Silva (15 not out) shared an unbroken 34 for the seventh wicket when play closed early because of bad light, with Mendis having taken 4-17 and Embuldeniya 2-18.