06/25/26 05:14:00
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06/25 17:12 CDT Captain's knock by De Silva rallies Sri Lanka on Day 1 against
West Indies
Captain's knock by De Silva rallies Sri Lanka on Day 1 against West Indies
NORTH SOUND, Antigua (AP) --- Captain Dhananjaya de Silva's 13th century
rallied Sri Lanka after it twice lost two wickets in an over, guiding his team
to 308 all out after being sent in Thursday on the opening day of the first
test against the West Indies.
De Silva shared partnerships of 68 for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal
(54), and 99 for the sixth wicket with Sonal Dinusha (43) after Sri Lanka had
been 42-3.
The visiting skipper was finally out for 120 in the last session after adding a
further 64 runs for the seventh wicket with Milan Rathnayake (27).
Sri Lanka was 272-7 when de Silva was out in the 65th over and it's innings
ended seven overs later as Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves wrapped up the tail.
West Indies openers John Campbell and Brandon King had to see out a single over
before stumps to finish the day on 0-0 in the opening game of the two-match
series.
Greaves took 3-39, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph picked up two wickets each
and Kemar Roach claimed 2-32 to edge closer to 300 test victims. He now has 296
at an average of 27.02.
They were all part of a pace-heavy lineup which encouraged the West Indies to
bowl on winning the toss. The decision seemed a sound one when Alzarri Joseph
removed Nishan Madushka and Kamindu Mendis in the 10th over.
The pitch favored the quicks early but settled in the afternoon as de Silva
built his century from 150 balls. Though he was watchful, Sri Lanka scored
throughout the day at more than four runs per over.
Roach and Seales had found movement with the new ball and Roach dismissed
Pathum Nissanka (2) with the last ball of the first over.
Alzarri Joseph's quick double strike set Sri Lanka back on its heels after a
brisk start and Shamar Joseph later removed Chandimal and Kusal Mendis inside
four balls in the 26th over.
De Silva built on the foundation laid by Chandimal, whose 54 came from 67 balls
and included eight boundaries. Sri Lanka's captain played straight early on
but, with growing confidence, began to take runs square of the wicket,
unruffled by the short ball.
De Silva hit 17 boundaries before falling to a full delivery from Greaves which
popped to Brandon King as he tried to turn it into the leg side.
Earlier, Madushka (23) greeted Alzarri Joseph with a six over point before the
tall fast bowler struck twice in two balls.
Madushka was out plumb leg before wicket when he tried to flick the ball to the
on-side and Kamindu Mendis edged Joseph to first slip off the next ball.
De Silva survived the hat-trick ball and grew in confidence with Chandimal,
providing the backbone of an innings in which two of Sri Lanka's top six were
out for ducks.
Sri Lanka is playing its first test in a year since a 1-0 series win against
Bangladesh.
West Indies also is playing its first test this year and searching for its
first win in the World Test Championship after seven defeats in eight tests.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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