Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 22 : Sri Lankan tail-ender Chaminda Vaas thwarted the West Indies with a defiant 38 on the second day of the opening test at the Beausejour stadium here today. Paceman Corey Collymore had boosted the West Indies' hopes of restricting Sri Lanka to below 300-mark with his maiden five-wicket haul, but left-handed Vaas batted resolutely to take his team to 354 all out at tea. Vaas helped his team add 66 for the last two wickets as the West Indies could dismiss just two tail-enders in the afternoon session.
He received valuable support from Muttiah Muralitharan (14) and Prabhath Nissanka (12 not out). Sri Lanka found the going easier when Collymore had been rested after his morning spell. None of the remaining bowlers could keep pressure even on the tail-enders.

Vaas steadily strengthened his team's position, adding 38 for the ninth wicket with Muralitharan and 28 for the last with Nissanka.

The morning session had belonged to Collymore, who finished with 5-66 in only his second test.

Sri Lanka failed to cope with Collymore's pace and bounce as they slipped to 288-8 after resuming at a healthy 250-4.

Collymore rocked Sri Lanka with two quick wickets in his incisive opening spell with the second new ball, taken after two overs in the morning.

The fast bowler, who had bagged just one wicket in his only test in 1999 against Australia, trapped Romesh Kaluwitharana leg-before and had Kaushal Lokuarachchi (15) caught by a diving Brian Lara in the slips.

Bureau Report