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Sri Lanka v West Indies       November 13 - 17

Check out the latest ground updates done by our correspondent, at the matches.

First Test
DAY FIVE 
November 17, 2001 - 1130 GMT 
Live Score
Muralitharan spins SL to first Test win over WI 

GALLE: West Indies crumbled for 144 runs in their second innings as Sri Lanka raced to a 10-wicket win in the first Test here on Saturday. Muttiah Muralitharan claimed 5-44 in the second innings as he single handedly destroyed the touring side who were looking for a draw when play started on the final day.

Muralitharan, who took 6/126 in the first innings, finished with a match-haul of 11/170 as the West Indians crumbled against the sustained pressure applied by the spinners. Brian Lara, who made 178 in the first innings, managed only 40, failing to save his side from a sensational collapse that does not augur well for the tourists in the two Tests ahead. 

Muralitharan was well supported by left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratilleke, who finished with two for 46. The West Indies' chances of saving the match receded when Lara mistimed a drive off off-spinner Thilan Samaraweera to be caught by Muralitharan at mid-wicket after lunch. 

Lara batted for 101 minutes to score two boundaries. The remaining batsmen, including skipper Carl Hooper, failed to read the home team's spinners who continued to strike at regular intervals. 

The slow bowlers raised victory hopes with three quick wickets in the morning session after the West Indies had resumed at 9-1. 

Bandaratilleke bagged two wickets and Muralitharan one as the West Indies lost three wickets for 13 runs in less than six overs. 

The Sri Lankan spinners kept the visitors under pressure, despite a stubborn 67-run stand for the second wicket between Daren Ganga (33) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (30). 

Bandaratilleke provided the breakthrough when he dismissed Ganga, who was caught sweeping by Hashan Tillekeratne at square-leg after adding 30 to his overnight score. 

Sarwan, who rarely looked comfortable against the spinners, was caught off bat and pad by Russel Arnold off Muralitharan. The West Indies suffered a big blow when Hooper lofted a drive off Bandaratilleke straight to Sanath Jayasuriya in the covers after contributing six.

Sri Lanka, denied an innings victory by two runs, easily secured their maiden Test win over the West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

November 17, 2001 - 0650 GMT 
Spinners bring SL back in match

GALLE: Sri Lankan spinners grabbed three crucial wickets against West Indies to stage a remarkable comeback here at the Galle International Stadium before lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test match of the three-match series.

Resuming at 9/1in 7 overs, the tourists defied the hosts for an hour before Daren Ganga was caught by Tillekeratne off Bandaratilleke for 33 in the 36th over. In the next over, Sarwan was caught by Arnold off Muralitharan for 30 runs and their loss reduced the tourists to 70/3. Carl Hooper then joined Brian Lara but after scoring 6 runs off 18 balls, he was caught by Jayasuriya off Bandaratilleke in the 42nd over.

At lunch on the final day, the West Indies were trailing by 50 runs and had scored 92 runs for the loss of four wickets in 47 overs. Muralitharan (1/21) and Bandaratilleke (2/39) shared the wickets to fall but with Lara (11 not out) and Samuels (2 not out) still at the crease, a West Indian fight back can be expected.


DAY FOUR
 November 16, 2001 - 1045 GMT
Test heads towards draw after Tillekeratne century

GALLE: The first Test of the three-match series between West Indies and Sri Lanka was heading towards a draw as the hosts piled up 590 runs in their first innings on the fourth day here at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka lost their overnight batsmen - Arnold and Sangakkara - in the first session of play. Arnold was declared leg before off Ramnarine for 33 while Sangakkara was run out on 140. After their loss, the sixth-wicket pair of Thilan Samaraweera and Hashan Tillekeratne defied the West Indies attack with a 154-run stand and helped the hosts to take a lead of 142 runs over West Indies.

Thilan Samaraweera scored 77 while Tillekeratne managed 105 as Sri Lanka declared at 590 for the loss of 9 wickets in 202.4 overs on the fourth day in reply to the West Indies' 448. The two batted slowly, but confidently to take their team past the West Indies total. The left-hander reached his century - his eighth in Tests - after tea while Samaraweera relied on singles and twos, hitting just one four in his 181-ball knock. 

The inexperienced West Indies attack continued to struggle for the second successive day. None of the bowlers put pressure on Tillekeratne and Samarweera. Ramnarine, the only West Indian to achieve success in two sessions today, captured three wickets for 158 runs while Dillon and Stuart managed two wickets each. 

West Indies, facing the daunting task of keeping Muttiah Muralitharan at bay on a wearing fifth-day wicket, were 9-1 at stumps in their second innings.

Opener Chris Gayle was dismissed for one by left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, who shared the new ball with spinner Niroshan Bandaratilleke. At close, Daren Ganga was on three and Ramnaresh Sarwan was on five.

West Indies need to play out a minimum of 90 overs on Saturday to force a draw in the first of three Tests.

November 16, 2001 - 0733 GMT 
Galle Test heading for draw

GALLE: The first Test of the three-match series between West Indies and Sri Lanka was heading towards a draw as the hosts neared the West Indian first innings total at lunch on the fourth day here at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka lost their overnight batsmen - Arnold and Sangakkara - in the first session of play. Arnold was declared leg before off Ramnarine for 33 while Sangakkara was run out on 140. Since their departure, Thilan Samaraweera and Hashan Tillekeratne have defied the hosts and continued their struggle to take the hosts past the West Indian first innings total.

At lunch, the hosts were trailing by 36 runs as they had scored 412 runs for the loss of five wickets in 145 overs in reply to West Indies's 448 all out. Samaraweera and Tillekeratne were the not out batsmen at the crease with scores of 6 and 30.


DAY THREE 
November 15, 2001 - 1215 GMT
SL in comfortable position after Sangakkara century
GALLE: Wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara hit his second Test century as Sri Lanka reached 343 for 3 at close of play on the third day of the first Test against West Indies at Galle International Stadium.

Sangakkara, 126 not out, struck 15 fours in his century as Sri Lanka continued to pile on the runs in reply to the West Indies first innings of 448.

Mahela Jayawardene, who had been the more aggressive of the two batsmen during a third-wicket stand of 162, narrowly missed out on his ninth Test ton when he was unluckily run out for 99. He smashed 13 fours in 133 balls when he lobbed a ball from Mervyn Dillon to short mid-wicket and set off for an impossible single as he tried to reach three figures. He was comfortably run out after a direct hit by Marlon Samuels at the striker's end.

Jayawardene had made 150 in Sri Lanka's previous Test against Bangladesh at Colombo in September. Sangakkara put on 162 for the third wicket with Jayawardene after adding 109 for the second with opener Marvan Atapattu.

Sri Lanka, who began the day at 103-1, smashed 103 runs in the morning session and 94 in the two hours after lunch. Sangakkara, who scored an unbeaten 105 against India here in August, and Jayawardene reduced the West Indies bowlers to a state of helplessness with their solid batting.

The tourists struggled for wickets throughout the day, despite taking the second new ball after 88 overs in the post-lunch session. Neither fast bowlers nor spinners could put the pressure on the Sri Lankan duo, who continued to score comfortably.

When rain brought an early finish to the day's play, with 23 overs still to be bowled, Sri Lanka trailed West Indies by 105 runs with seven first-innings wickets in hand. Sri Lanka had scored 343 runs for the loss of three wickets. Kumar Sangakkara was batting at 126 not out while Russel Arnold scored 18 not out.

 November 15, 2001 - 0946 GMT
SL continue to dominate against WI

GALLE: Sri Lanka enjoyed another good session as they continued to defy the inexperienced bowling line up of the West Indies here by tea of the second day at Galle International Stadium.

Resuming at 223-2 in 73 overs, the hosts lost Mahela Jayawardene for 99 runs after the batsman added 162 runs for the third wicket with Sangakkara who completed his second century in 14 Tests. Jayawardene was found short of crease and his loss saw the hosts lose their third wicket at 308.

By tea on the third day, Sri Lanka had reduced their deficit by 131 runs. Kumar Sangakkara was batting at 115 not out while Russel Arnold scored 4 not out as they scored 317 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 99 overs. 

 November 15, 2001 - 0655 GMT
Sangakkara lead SL fightback

GALLE: Sri Lanka enjoyed a good session as they only lost a wicket for an addition of 120 runs here in the first session of the second day against the West Indies at Galle International Stadium.

Resuming at 103-1 in 35 overs, the hosts lost Atapattu after the batsman completed his half century. He was caught by Lara in slips off Ramnarine for 61 and after his loss, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 77 runs in their 23 over-stay and by lunch took Sri Lanka to 223 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 73 overs.

Sangakkara was nearing a century with 80 not out while Jayawardene was batting two short of a half century with 48 not out. Ramnarine 1/46 and Dillon 1/51 were the successful bowlers for West Indies.

The hosts are trailing by 225 runs and would require 25 more runs to make the tourists bat again.

DAY TWO
November 14, 2001 - 1135 GMT
Test evenly poised after Muralitharan's heroics

GALLE: The first Test match between Sri Lanka and West Indies was evenly poised at close of play on the second day here at the Galle International Stadium. The tourists were bowled out for 448 in 141.4 overs in their first innings thanks to Muttiah Muralitharan who finished with six wickets in an innings. In reply, Sri Lanka made 103 for one at stumps. Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was the one Sri Lankan to fall in reply, making a trademark 19-ball 25 including four boundaries before being caught at point by McGarrell off pace bowler Mervyn Dillon. 

Earlier, Muttiah Muralitharan completed a six-wicket haul by taking 6 wickets for 126 runs in 53.4 overs, including Brian Lara's scalp for 178, as West Indies collapsed against Sri Lanka after lunch. The off-spinner, who took one for 104 on the opening day, added another five victims as the touring side, resuming on 316 for three, lost their last seven wickets for 55 to be dismissed for 448 in the afternoon session. 

West Indies had looked in total control before Murali removed Carl Hooper, Lara and Marlon Samuels in quick succession. Hooper was dismissed for 69 before lunch while Lara was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara after top edging a sweep. The left-hander batted over six hours in making his 16th Test century, facing 293 balls and hitting 19 fours. 

Muralitharan then cleaned up the tail by sending back Neil McGarrell, caught off bat and pad at silly point, and Colin Stuart bowled for a duck without offering a shot. Left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas took four for 96 while Muralitharan finished with six for 125, taking five for 21 in 13.4 overs on the second day in his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests.

At stumps, Sri Lanka were trailing by 345 runs as they had scored 103 for one in 35 overs. Kumar Sangakkara (27 not out) and Marvan Atapattu (46 not out) were the not out batsmen and they would be hoping to wipe out the deficit first thing in the morning.

November 14, 2001 - 0745 GMT
Muralitharan sparks West Indies collapse 

GALLE: Muttiah Muralitharan completed a six-wicket haul, including Brian Lara's scalp for 178, as West Indies collapsed against Sri Lanka after lunch on the second day in the first Test of the three-match series.

Muralitharan, who took one for 104 on the opening day, added another five victims as the touring side, resuming on 316 for three, lost their last seven wickets for 55 to be dismissed for 448 in the afternoon session. 

West Indies had looked in total control before Murali removed Carl Hooper, Lara and Marlon Samuels in quick 
succession. Lara was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara after top edging a sweep. The left-hander batted over six hours in making his 16th Test century, facing 293 balls and hitting 19 fours. 

Muralitharan then cleaned up the tail by sending back Neil McGarrell, caught off bat and pad at silly point, and Colin Stuart bowled for a duck without offering a shot. 

Left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas took four for 96 while Muralitharan finished with six for 125, taking five for 21 in 13.4 overs on the second day in his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests. 

In reply, Sri Lanka made a quickfire 44 for one by tea. Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was the one Sri Lankan to fall in reply, making a trademark 19-ball 25 including four boundaries before being caught at point by McGarrell off pace bowler Mervyn Dillon. 

November 14, 2001 - 0700 GMT 
Lara continues to tame SL

GALLE: Brain Lara continued his brilliant form with the bat and defied the Sri Lankan bowling in the first session on the second day of the first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka here at Galle International Stadium. 

Resuming at 316 runs for the loss of three wickets in 97 overs, the tourists were safely taken to 393 runs when Muralitharan took his second wicket by making Carl Hooper play a top-spin back to the bowler. The West Indian captain added 153 runs for the fourth wicket with Lara, who on the first day scored his 16th Test century. Hooper scored 69 runs and his loss brought Marlon Samuels to the crease who added 16 runs along with Lara before lunch. For Sri Lanka, Muralitharan took 2/117 but had to bowl 47 overs to do so.

At lunch, West Indies had scored 409 runs for the loss of four wickets in 127 overs. Brian Lara (167 not out) and Marlon Samuels (7 not out) were at the crease and would be hoping to score as many runs as possible to ensure a gigantic score in their first innings.


DAY ONE
November 13, 2001 - 1155 GMT 
Lara, Sarwan put WI in control on opening day

GALLE: West Indies reached 316 for the loss of three wickets at close of play on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka after winning the toss and batting first here at the Galle International Stadium. 

The tourists made a slow and cautious start to the first day of the match which saw 97 overs bowled. They lost in-form Chris Gayle (9) who was caught behind off Vaas in the seventh over of the match. After his departure, the tourists played well and Daren Ganga (47), Ramnaresh Sarwan (88) and Brian Lara managed to score runs at will in the next two sessions.

After the loss of Ganga, who was caught by Jayawardene off Vaas immediately after lunch, Ramnaresh Sarwan added 145 runs with Brian Lara while after Sarwan was bowled for 88 off Muralitharan, Lara and captain Carl Hooper defied the hosts of further success. The two added 76 runs in their 23.1-over stay and would be looking forward to score as many runs as possible on the second day. For the hosts, Vaas had taken 2-58 while Muralitharan went for 108 runs from his 41 overs for one wicket.

The tourists dropped injured fast bowler Reon King and have included Neil McGarrell in his place while for the hosts, pacer Charita Buddhika is making his Test debut. At stumps, Brian Lara and Carl Hooper had scored 117 not out and 34 not out respectively and would be looking forward to add as many runs as possible to their total of 316 runs for the loss of three wickets.

 November 13, 2001 - 1020 GMT 
WI on top at Galle

GALLE: West Indies reached 210 for two wickets at tea on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka after winning the toss and batting first here at the Galle International Stadium. 

Resuming after lunch at 85/1 in 33 overs, the tourists lost Daren Ganga for 47 as he was caught by Jayawardene off Vaas but after his departure, Ramnaresh Sarwan has added 115 runs with Brian Lara and at tea, both the batsmen had defied the hosts of a wicket. At tea, West Indies had scored 210 runs for the loss of two wickets with Sarwan on 79 not out and Lara on 59 not out. For the hosts, Vaas had taken 2-41 while the rest of the bowlers failed to take a wicket.

November 13, 2001 - 0705 GMT
WI make slow start after initial loss

GALLE: West Indies were off to a slow start on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here at the Galle International Stadium after winning the toss and electing to bat.

They lost in-form Chris Gayle for 9 as he was caught behind off Vaas in the seventh over of the match. Since then, the tourists have played well and for the unbroken second wicket, Daren Ganga (46 not out off 96 balls) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (25 not out off 85 balls) have put on 70 runs in 26.4 overs.

At lunch on the first day, West Indies have scored 85 runs for the loss of Gayle in 33 overs. The hosts would be looking towards Muralitharan for a breakthrough while experienced players like Lara and Hooper would be hoping to keep their unbeaten record against Sri Lanka intact.

November 13, 2001 - 0615 GMT
West Indies elect to bat after winning toss

GALLE: Carl Hooper won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the first Test match against Sri Lanka here at Asgiriya Stadium, Galle.

The tourists have dropped injured fast bowler Reon King and have included Neil McGarrell in his place while for the hosts, pacer Charita Buddhika is making his Test debut.

West Indies team: CL Hooper (capt), CH Gayle, D Ganga, RR Sarwan, BC Lara, MN Samuels, RD Jacobs (wicket-keeper), NC McGarrell, M Dillon, CEL Stuart, D Ramnarine.

Sri Lanka team: ST Jayasuriya (capt), MS Atapattu, K Sangakkara (wicket-keeper), DPMD Jayawardene, RP Arnold, HP Tillekaratne, TT Samaraweera, WPUJC Vaas, C Buddhika, MRCN Bandaratilleke, M Muralitharan.
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