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Atapattu thwarts West Indies with unbeaten 69
Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 20: Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara slammed solid half-centuries to put Sri Lanka in a strong position on the opening day of the first test against the West Indies here today.
Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 20: Marvan Atapattu and
Kumar Sangakkara slammed solid half-centuries to put Sri Lanka
in a strong position on the opening day of the first test
against the West Indies here today.
Atapattu scored 69 not out and Sangakkara 56 as Sri Lanka
reached 152-2 at tea in their first innings after electing to
bat at the Beausejour stadium, hosting its inaugural test.
The pair put on 108 for the second wicket to steady the innings after Sri Lanka had lost veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya (8) early in the morning. Left-handed Sangakkara also became the ninth Sri Lankan batsman to complete 2,000 test runs during his 11th half-century in 29 matches.
He fell soon after completing his fifty, trapped leg- before by part-time spinner Chris Gayle after hitting six fours in his 101-ball knock.
Atapattu reached his 12th test half-century in the afternoon session when he turned debutant fast bowler Jerome Taylor to fine-leg for his seventh four. His 149-ball contained eight fours.
The West Indies' lone success in the morning session came through paceman Corey Collymore, who returned to the squad after playing his only test in 1999 against Australia in Antigua.
Jayasuriya's poor run with the bat continued as he fell after spending some cautious moments in the middle against new-ball bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Collymore. The veteran left-hander, who failed to score a half-century in three one-dayers against the hosts recently, cut an awaygoing delivery from Collymore straight to Omari Banks at gully.
Bureau Report
The pair put on 108 for the second wicket to steady the innings after Sri Lanka had lost veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya (8) early in the morning. Left-handed Sangakkara also became the ninth Sri Lankan batsman to complete 2,000 test runs during his 11th half-century in 29 matches.
He fell soon after completing his fifty, trapped leg- before by part-time spinner Chris Gayle after hitting six fours in his 101-ball knock.
Atapattu reached his 12th test half-century in the afternoon session when he turned debutant fast bowler Jerome Taylor to fine-leg for his seventh four. His 149-ball contained eight fours.
The West Indies' lone success in the morning session came through paceman Corey Collymore, who returned to the squad after playing his only test in 1999 against Australia in Antigua.
Jayasuriya's poor run with the bat continued as he fell after spending some cautious moments in the middle against new-ball bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Collymore. The veteran left-hander, who failed to score a half-century in three one-dayers against the hosts recently, cut an awaygoing delivery from Collymore straight to Omari Banks at gully.
Bureau Report