Port of Spain, April 6:

Thilan Samaraweera hit his sixth Test hundred and shared a century seventh-wicket stand with Chaminda Vaas to lead a Sri Lanka recovery in the second and final Test against West Indies here on Saturday.

Samaraweera scored 125, as Sri Lanka, trailing by 16 runs in first innings, were dismissed for 268 in their second innings just before the scheduled close on the third day to leave West Indies two whole days to chase 253 for victory.

Samaraweera reached his ton when he sliced Fidel Edwards to the third man boundary for the 15th of his 18 fours that came from 199 balls. When Samaraweera arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble on 32-3, and they soon crashed to 99-6, with West Indies contemplating a victory inside three days. But Vaas joined Samaraweera, and they spent just over three hours repairing the damage with a stand of 138.

Vaas scored a valuable 45 before he was caught behind off West Indies captain Chris Gayle. Then Samaraweera was run out going for a second run, when he failed to beat

Marlon Samuels’ throw from third man to the wicketkeeper.

Jerome Taylor brought the Sri Lanka innings to a close, when he had Muttiah Muralithran (4) caught at long leg to finish as West Indies’ most successful bowler with 4-52. Before lunch, Sri Lanka suffered a batting meltdown and handed West Indies the advantage until Samaraweera and Vaas snatch it back again.

The visitors had dismissed West Indies for 294 in their first innings 50 minutes after the start with off-spin legend Muralitharan ending with 5-79. But the Sri Lankans soon found themselves in strife, as the home team’s fast bowlers, led by Taylor, ran through their opponents’ top order.

Sri Lanka suffered a double setback in the second over, when Malinda Warnapura (0) was caught at third slip for a duck off Taylor, whose direct hit at the striker’s end three

balls later ran out Michael Vandort (1) to leave the visitors on 4-2.