1st Test, Galle, November 21, 2021, 10:00 AM
Sri Lanka
386/10(133.5ov) & 191/4(40.5ov)
West Indies
230/10(85.5ov) & 160/10(79.0ov)
Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 187 runs
Right then! It is started to rain here at Galle and guess what? The second Test will be played here at the same venue. Hope the weather changes and so does the result for West Indies who will eye a comeback. The second Test match will start on Monday, 29th November at 1000 Local Time (0430 GMT). Do join us early for the build-up. Till then, goodbye and cheers! If you want more cricketing action, switch the tabs as India are 154/4, going into the Tea break against New Zealand. Adios!
Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies skipper says that Joshua and Bonner showed a commendable fight right from yesterday and as a batter, they should learn from it. He adds that the first innings is always important in Test matches and they were short there. He mentions that toss was crucial but as professional cricketers, they need to adapt. He applauded the bowlers for their show and praises Gabriel for the aggression he showed but adds that they were short in the batting department. He mentions that they need to learn from this game quickly and if they have to defend, then defend it with confidence.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the Man of the Match, he says that he was playing a long time, it was a good game for him. Says that they were a bit worried as they didn't play much Test cricket in between but he is proud of the players. Says that experienced players are helping young ones all the time. Tells that they do the job when they get the ball. Mentions that it was raining heavily so they went with two pacers but they will see the condition and the wicket before choosing the playing XI. Says that he needs to carry on the good role. He have some targets to achieve and will continue to help the team.
...Stay tuned for the Presentation... And you will not believe this. IT HAS STARTED TO RAIN. And very heavily too. Oh dear, oh dear... could this be the famous case of what if??? If they had just hung around for another 5 minutes...
Earlier after opting to bat first, Dimuth Karunaratne showed his brilliance in the red-ball yet again as he scored an astonishing 147 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal played wonderful cameos. Their brilliance was followed by the bowlers as they bundled out West Indies for 230. Sri Lanka extended their lead, thanks to yet another beautiful performance from their captain, Dimuth Karunaratne and their former captain, Angelo Mathews. After that, it was all spinners as they did the job. West Indies showed a good fight, things would have been different if their middle-order performed well but that isn't the case.
It was spin, spin and spin from Sri Lanka and why not when you are getting the reward. It was Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis who showed their magic skills and reduced West Indies for 18/6. The game was solely under the control of the hosts but unfortunately, they failed to break the 7th wicket partnership and it took the game bit away. They had to work hard for the wicket and the spinners were later awarded for their work. A five-fer for Ramesh Mendis and four-fer for Lasith Embuldeniya sealed the game.
West Indies showed good fight until the end. It looked like the visitors will be bundled out at the fag end of Day 4 after been 18/6 but since then, Bonner and Da Silva showed good spirit and turned the fortunes. Not all but enough for the game to resume on the last day. They continued to show their technical abilities and almost survived the first session without losing a wicket but Da Silva fell in the end. Nkrumah Bonner played more than 200 deliveries and he anchored until the end but Rahkeem Cornwall, Jomel Warrican and Shannon Gabriel failed to help him. Even luck was against them as it started raining just when Gabriel fell. A disappointing ending but a fighting show from West Indies and especially from Nkrumah Bonner.
Sri Lanka take the lead in this two-Test match series against West Indies by 1-0. It took much more time than we thought but credit to West Indies to stretch the innings. The rain comes down now adding to the dismay of West Indies. Celebrations begin in Sri Lanka's dugout as Mickey Arthur is seen with a big smile.
In over# 79
0W
0
0
0
0
0
Lasith Embuldeniya 46/5(29)
78.6
W
OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! No he can't! The rain was around the corner and Shannon Gabriel had to just control this last ball but he is squared up as he tried to defend it. This was full and around leg, it lands and spins away from the right-hander. Shannon Gabriel gets on the front foot and tries to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and goes towards the first slip where Dhananjaya de Silva takes a sharp catch. SRI LANKA WIN BY 187 RUNS.
78.5
.
Too full, on middle. Shannon Gabriel somehow defends it. Can he defend this last ball as well?
78.4
.
Shannon Gabriel surviving this over. Full again, on off. Shannon Gabriel dead bats it.
78.3
.
Too full and on middle. Shannon Gabriel hangs back and defends it.
78.2
.
Full again, on off. Shannon Gabriel blocks it.
78.1
.
Full and on middle. Shannon Gabriel lunges and defends it under his eyes.
In over# 78
4
0
0
0
0
0
Ramesh Mendis 64/4(31)
77.6
4
FOUR! Shot! Full and on off. Nkrumah Bonner skips down and hammers it over mid off for a boundary.
77.5
.
Nicely tossed up, on off. Nkrumah Bonner gets forward and defends it comfortably off the front foot.
77.4
.
Shorter length, Bonner gets back and defends it off the back foot towards the off side.
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