Emphatic Windies thrash Sri Lanka by 226 runs
Trinidad and Tobago, June 11 (TNS): Kusal Mendis was the lone bright spot for Sri Lanka as they suffered a massive defeat against Windies in Port of Spain in the first test on Sunday. All Mendis’s 210-ball 102 did was to take some sheen off the margin of defeat, which was eventually by 226 runs as Sri Lanka were bowled out cheaply for the second time in the game. Roston Chase expedited Windies’ victory and finished with figures of 4 for 15.
When Mendis brought up his fifth Test ton, the usual raising of the bat and the helmet followed but there wasn’t any over-the-top celebration. He knew that there was plenty of work left and he went about it by showcasing solid defense and astute judgment against the Pacers who were looking to use the inconsistent bounce from the pitch to their advantage. However, there was one from delivery from Shannon Gabriel, the quickest bowler for Windies in this game, which took off from a good length and clipped the glove of the centurion who didn’t quite have the answer to what looked like an unplayable delivery.
Dinesh Chandimal walked to the crease, and he was supported by nightwatchman Lahiru Gamage as they negotiated the next eight overs without any damage. But the fifth wicket for Sri Lanka followed soon after as Gamage was trapped in front by a straight one from Devendra Bishoo and cost Sri Lanka a review in the process. The next man in, Niroshan Dickwella, was flirting with the outside-off lines employed by Kemar Roach, managing a boundary through cover, edging one past the slip cordon for a four before one went past the edge – or at least Windies thought so as they didn’t appeal and replays later revealed that there was some bat.
With the second new ball due after a few overs, Chase bowled in tandem with Bishoo, with the offspinner probably being introduced to quickly get through the overs and allow the hosts to operate with the new ball for an over or two before the break. However, the pacers weren’t required at all. Chase struck twice in an over – First it was skipper Chandimal, whose attempt to go aerial fell flat on his face and Dickwella followed soon after, playing down the wrong line to be out leg-before off the final ball before Lunch. Windies needed only four more overs to finish off the game as Bishoo and Chase ran through the tail.
It was a clinical performance from Windies with several of their players rising to the occasion at different times. Shane Dowrich’s measured ton, with strong support from Bishoo and Roach, helped the hosts finish with a total of 414 in the first innings, having been reduced to 147 for 5 at one stage. The Windies pacers then came to the party to bowl out Sri Lanka for 185. Deciding against enforcing the follow-on, Windies managed to set Sri Lanka an imposing target of 453 thanks to Kieran Powell’s 88 before the spinners took charge of the proceedings on the final day, with Bishoo and Chase picking up seven of Sri Lanka’s 10 wickets in the final innings.
For the visitors, the negatives outweighed the positives – be it the manner of the dismissals, not showing enough application, their poor catching or the bowlers lacking the ability to sustain the pressure. Mendis’s batting performance would serve as a good example for the rest of the batsmen going forward in the series while Lahiru Kumara’s energetic pace bowling – clocking in excess of 140 almost every time he was asked to bowl – is a boost for the bowling department which otherwise lacked the sting.
Brief scores: Windies 414/8 decl. (Shane Dowrich 125; Lahiru Kumara 4-95) & 223/7 decl. (Kieran Powell 88; Lahiru Kumara 3-40) beat Sri Lanka 185 (Dinesh Chandimal 44; Miguel Cummins 3-39) & 226 (Kusal Mendis 104; Roston Chase 4-15) by 226 runs.
(TNS/Cricbuzz)
