Mother Nature is proving to be the sore thumb in the current test series between West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Rain again halted play yesterday on day two of the final test match between the two sides. The day was marked by a patient half-century by Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul while Brendan Nash played some handsome strokes in an unbeaten half-century as the West Indies reached 244-5 at the Pallekele Stadium in this central city.
Chanderpaul made 54 – his 55th half-century in Test cricket, and Nash was 62 not out when bad light and rain cut short play to 41 overs for the second consecutive day.
On Wednesday, only 40 overs were bowled. Nash and Chanderpaul, the reliable pair of left-handers, added 99 for the fourth wicket after Darren Bravo was trapped leg-before early in the day for 68.
Nash reached his half-century off 74 balls. So far he has faced 110 balls and hit five boundaries. Early in his innings he reached 1,000 runs in Test cricket.
Chanderpaul, who earlier in the tour became just the second West Indian to surpass 9,000 Test runs, played the anchor role. He faced 145 balls and hit three boundaries.
Chanderpaul was brilliant caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardena off Ajantha Mendis, and moments later Dwayne Bravo, who failed to get off the mark, was smartly stumped by Prasanna Jayawardena off the accurate Herath. The end of the day came shortly after in the post-lunch session when a heavy shower accompanied by fading light drove the players off the field.
caribbeanworldnews
