Brathwaite guides the Windies to safety
View(s):West Indies ‘A’ opener Kraigg Brathwaite regained his form to put his team in a strong position as the hosts replied boldly with 155 for the loss of three wickets in their first innings in response to 314 posted by Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the third day of second and final Unofficial Test at St. Vincent.
Sri Lanka 'A' fast bowler Suranga Lakmal celebrates the wicket of West Indies 'A' opener Assad Fudadin. - Pic courtesy WICB
Brathwaite, after a well composed knock of 70 not out took West Indies from an early crash, with the help of Narsingh Deonarine to put up an unbroken 111 partnership for the fourth wicket.
While Brathwaite adamantly secured his wicket at one end, he witnessed his partners, Assad Fudadin, Kirk Edwards and Leon Johnson lose their composure and walked back to the dressing room. Apparently Fudadin, Edwards and Johnson made centuries in the first Unofficial Test at St. Kitt’s, reaching their respective career best knocks, but at St. Vincent it was Brathwaite’s turn to gain the spotlight from the trio. His unbeaten 70 which came in 128 deliveries included seven boundaries and a six as Deonarine remained at 58 not out off 83 balls inclusive of eight fours.
The wickets of Fudadin and Edwards were claimed by fast bowler Suranga Lakmal who went wicketless in the first four-day game. Left-am paceman Vimukthi Perera playing in his first game in the Caribbean picked the priceless scalp of Johnson.
After the second day’s play was abandoned Sri Lanka who resumed their innings at 268 for 6 wickets, added 46 runs to their total as they were bowled out for 314. Wicketkeeper/batsman Kaushal Silva, who remained unbeaten on 115 after first day’s play, added further four runs to his innings to be bowled out at 275 as the seventh Sri Lankan wicket. Silva made 119 runs from 221 deliveries inclusive of 14 fours, as he single-handedly helped Sri Lanka make a great fight back after they lost three quick wickets.
Sri Lanka A 314 all out in 109.1 (Dimuth Karunaratne 24, Kaushal Silva 119, Angelo Perera 50, Ashan Priyanjan 20, Chathuranga de Silva 33, Miguel Cummins 4/74, Jonathan Carter 3/51)
West Indies A 155 for 3 wickets in 42.5 at stumps on Day 3 (Kraigg Brathwaite 70n.o, Narsingh Deonarine 58n.o, Suranga Lakmal 2/23)
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