1st test: Sri Lanka 165-3 as rain ends day three
GALLE, Sri Lanka — Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored half-centuries to steer Sri Lanka to 165-3 in reply to West Indies’ 580-9 before rain brought an early end to play on day three of the first test today.
Sri Lanka went to lunch on 148-3 but only 25 deliveries were possible after lunch when bad light stopped play. The rain then started and persisted through the scheduled second session, forcing Australian match referee Alan Hurst to call off the day’s play.
Jayawardene was unbeaten on 51, his 37th test half-century, with Thilan Samaraweera on 11 at stumps.
Resuming Wednesday at 54-1, the hosts added only seven before opener Tharanga Paranavitana (10) was bowled by seamer Kemar Roach.
Sangakkara rallied with an aggressive 73, his 34th half-century, before being bowled by Dwayne Bravo with a yorker. He and Jayawardene shared 71 runs for the third wicket.
Sangakkara’s 102-ball innings contained 11 boundaries.
Bravo had the best bowling figures of 1-18.
Chris Gayle’s career-best 333 allowed West Indies to declare its first innings on 580-9 on Tuesday. It was the best total by any West Indies team against Sri Lanka.
Gayle also became only the fourth test player to hit two triple-hundreds and the first West Indian to achieve the landmark in an away test.