Day 5 of 2nd Sandals Test Match
Venue: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Toss: Sri Lanka won toss and bowled
Result: Match drawn
Scores: West Indies 354 and 280-4 dec.; Sri Lanka 258 and 193-2
Scoreboard: http://bit.ly/wivsl2ndtestscorecard
Ten wickets proved too tall an order for West Indies on a placid strip as captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando hit half-centuries to earn Sri Lanka a draw on the final day of the second Sandals Test match on Friday. Starting the day requiring a massive effort in order to win the contest and claim the series, West Indies managed only two wickets, with Sri Lanka reaching 193 before both captains shook hands and called time 20 minutes before the close at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Left-hander Karunaratne used the occasion to top-score with a polished 75 while Oshada Fernando hit an unbeaten 66 and left-hander opener Lahiru Thirimanne, 39. Rain forced a 35-minute delay at the start and with Karunaratne and Thirimanne surviving the first session to reach lunch on 93-0 chances of an outright result were slim.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said afterward they were always aware of the challenge before them on a good batting pitch but praised his young side for their disciplined approach.
He was speaking on the Sandals Player Zone.
“Obviously it was a good pitch. In both Test matches the bowlers really worked hard and what I was pleased with is that none of the guys ever gave up,” Brathwaite said out.
“Even down to Alzarri’s last spell he was still giving an effort to get some short balls in so I’m very happy with the effort of the team.”
He added:
“… batting-wise, we continued to bat a number of overs – 90-plus overs which is a positive for us. And yes, we would’ve liked to have won but I was very happy with the attitude and discipline that we had. The pitch was a good one throughout; it didn’t spin at all, but I was very happy with the fast bowlers’ effort.”
Brathwaite was named the Sandals Player-of-the-Match for his scores of 126 and 85, while Sri Lanka’s experienced seamer Saranga Lakmal was Player of the Series for his 11 wickets at 21.4 apiece in the two matches