Latest News
Greaves 180, Hope 112 dominate as Sri Lanka chase game
West Indies posted a huge total thanks to massive centuries from Justin Greaves 180 and Shai Hope 112. Now Sri Lanka are batting and trying to fight back into the game.
At the crease at close were Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, on a brisk third-wicket stand of 60 off 72 balls. Kamindu's entrance at 32 for 2 proved the catalyst for Sri Lanka's improved rate of scoring, as he wasted little time in looking to take on the bowling.
Greaves - Hope dominance The pair put on a big partnership and carried West Indies to a commanding score. Greaves’ 180 was the anchor, Hope’s 112 kept the tempo up.Sri Lanka under pressure Chasing a big total or trailing on first innings, Sri Lanka need a strong reply with the bat to stay in the match. Early wickets would make it tougher. Match situationWI set the tone with the bat. The game is now on Sri Lanka to "make a play" — either chase it down or bat long to save/draw.
Of his three boundaries, two came via edges, though an uppercut six off Alzarri signalled his intent as well to push the scoring along. By the close of play he had moved to 40 off 66, with Kamindu on 30 off 35. Sri Lanka were moving at a healthy scoring rate of 4.18.
Prior to their intervention, a fiery opening burst from Shamar Joseph, allied with that trademark precision probing from Jayden Seales, accounted for the early removal of first-innings centurion Lahiru Udara.
The opener was unable to add anything to his match tally, after failing to navigate a length ball that seamed back sharply to rap him just above the knee roll. Sri Lanka wasted a review as well, as replays showed it to be hitting the top of leg stump.
Chandimal and Nishan Madushka then came together to prevent further immediate inroads and managed to scratch together a 51-ball stand of 30. But with the pitch now showing more variable bounce and the West Indies seamers using the lateral movement on offer with the new ball, there were some nervy moments.
It was the Greaves-Hope show with the bat. Sri Lanka’s response with bat/ball will decide if they can get back into this contest.
It stopped the Hope-Greaves marathon stand at 242 off 459 deliveries, after which Sri Lanka's attack finally began to be rewarded for their tireless efforts across the innings. Much of this owed to the tenacity of Asitha Fernando, who dug deep into his reserves to find the energy to produce an exemplary spell of short-pitched bowling.
Milan Rathnayaka got Alzarri Joseph with a short ball. Alzarri tried to hit over fine leg and holed out. The big wicket though was Justin Greaves. After batting 325 balls, the tall all-rounder finally went. Prabath Jayasuriya got him — Greaves tried to work a ball that spun out of the rough, got a leading edge, and was caught at point. In short: Rathnayaka broke a lower-order stand, but Jayasuriya ended Greaves’ marathon 180 and gave Sri Lanka their prize wicket.