Sri Lanka close in on victory after another WI Select XI batting collapse 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Another dismal batting performance by a West Indies Select XI has left Sri Lanka on the verge of completing victory in their four-day warmup match at Coolidge Cricket Ground at the end of yesterday’s penultimate day.

Faced with a first-innings deficit of 76 runs after Sri Lanka were dismissed for 281, the West Indies Select put in another disappointing showing with the bat to be bowled out for 199 in 45.2 overs.

Requiring a paltry 124 runs to win the match, Sri Lanka ended the day on 30 for one, needing just 94.

The Select XI’s batting woes completely undid all of the earlier hard work by their bowlers, who did well to limit Sri Lanka after they resumed the day in a strong position of 173 for four.

Dinesh Chandimal topscored with 74, Milan Rathnayake scored 41 and Dinusha made 36, but the Select XI captured Sri Lanka’s last five wickets for 47.

Nial Smith led the fightback by capturing 4-58, Keemo Paul took 3-67, and Alzarri Joseph, 2-45.

Sri Lanka’s strong position was then set up by bowlers Asitha Fernando, Dinusha and Prabath Jayasuriya, who grabbed three wickets apiece.

The home side found themselves in a perilous position at 24 for three after Fernando dismissed Kirk McKenzie and Jonathan Drakes, while Jayasuriya snared the wicket of Kevin Wickham.

Opener Ackeem Auguste, who made 46 and Kemol Savory, who made 27, set about repairing the early damage during a 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

However, Jayasuriya struck to dismiss Savory and the West Indies Select XI lost three wickets for the addition of nine runs to slump to 87 for six.

Joshua Bishop and Paul responded in aggressive fashion by adding 74 runs in 11 overs, but Dinusha broke the stand by bowling the latter for 29 off 38 balls.

Bishop was in a no-nonsense mood, with his brutal knock of 68 off 42 balls, which included five sixes and five fours, propeling the West Indies Select XI to their eventual total, until he was last out.

Fernando claimed 3-27, Dinusha took 3-42, and Jayasuriya, 3-70, to be the main destroyers for Sri Lanka.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph bowled opener Lahiru Udara for two, but Sri Lanka navigated the remainder of the evening without much alarm.