Agence France Presse

Colombo, July 15:

Hosts Sri Lanka left the under-strength West Indians gasping for survival in the first cricket Test even as bad weather ruined the third day’s play today. Heavy overnight rain and dark skies wiped out the morning and evening sessions, allowing just 25.3 overs to be bowled in a brief post-lunch session. The short duration of play, however, proved disastrous for the West Indies. The tourists lost three quick wickets as they took their second innings score from overnight’s 17-3 to 59-6, an overall lead of 117 runs. Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul remained his team’s last hope with an unbeaten 29. His lone aggressive stroke was a six over long-on off left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, who was pressed into service because fading light prevented the fast bowlers from operating. Sri Lanka’s left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas trapped both Narsingh Deonarine and Dwayne Smith leg-before to return with figures of 4-12 from 12 overs. Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed teenager Denesh Ramdin, who made 56 in the first innings, by having him leg-before for 11. Omari Banks, the other batsman at the crease, had yet to score. If the weather improves — more rain is forecast over the next two days — Sri Lanka will be looking to wrap up the West Indian innings quickly and press for victory in their 150th Test match.