KINGSTOWN, ST VINCENT – Kraigg Brathwaite and Narsingh Deonarine led West Indies A’s charge in their 1st innings after another rain-hit day in the 2nd ‘Test’ at Arnos Vale. In many ways, the day started similar to that of Day 2, when not a ball was bowled. Rain was in the air throughout the early morning but held up enough for the groundstaff to dry the ground and have it ready for a 09:30hrs start.
However, the clouds hung low, and just after the first over was delivered by Sheldon Cotterell, a heavy drizzle came down.
But yesterday’s periods off the field were no where as long as Day 2. Within a short space of time, the players were back out. As if the rain had something to do with it, Cotterell and quickie partner, Miguel Cummins fired up. The former had been threatening for much of his early spell and he was rewarded with the big wicket of centurion Kaushal Silva for 119.
Not long after, Cummins accounted for the wicket of right-arm pacer, Suranga Lakmal. Eventually Sri Lanka A were bowled out twenty minutes before lunch for 314. Cummins finished with 4-70 while Jonathan Carter had 3-51.
With ten minutes to lunch, the West Indies A opening batsmen had to see out a tricky two overs. Kraigg Brathwaite and Assad Fudadin saw the hosts to the break. However, after the break, Fudadin pushing at a delivery outside off-stump, gave Lakmal his first wicket.
At 4-1, skipper Kirk Edwards strolled out to the middle. But he didn’t last very long, falling victim to a delivery that kept a little low, and uprooted his off-stump.
West Indies A were now 9-2. Leon Johnson helped Brathwaite do some minor repairs, but after being dropped twice, he failed to take advantage of his luck, pushing a delivery from Lakmal straight into the hands of cover.
Narsingh Deonarine and Brathwaite took West Indies A to tea on 77-3. Both batsmen started their own show in the final session. As they both settled in and became more comfortable at the crease, the Sri Lanka A bowlers became frustrated.
Brathwaite crossed his 50 in no time. He was well supported by Deonarine, who also passed his 50. Both batsmen put on an unbroken stand of 115 runs to strengthen the backbone of the West Indies A 1st innings.
Rain returned with a half-hour left in the day’s play, ending all proceedings yesterday. Deonarine was on 58 while Brathwaite was 70. Whether both batsmen can get to triple figures today will be about the only thing worth showing up for as another tame draw looms.

SRI LANKA A first innings
U. Jayasundera c Carter b Cummins 4
D. Karunarathne c Walton b Carter 24
K. Withanage c Walton b Carter 10
K. Silva lbw Cotterell 119
A. Perera c Walton b Miller 50
A. Priyanjana lbw Cummins 20
C. de Silva b Permaul 33
T. Kaushalya c Walton b Carter 15
S. Lakmal c Brathwaite b Cummins 12
A. Pushpakumara c Fudadin b Cummins 13
V. Perera not out 0
Total: (all out) 314
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-33, 3-51, 4-215, 5-160, 6-193, 7-252, 8-275, 9-294.
Bowling: Cotterell 21-4-42-1 (nb-2), Cummins 25.1-70-4 (nb-6), Carter 11-1-51-3 (w-1), Miller 21-2-55-1, Permaul 22-3-65-1 (nb-1), Deonarine 9-3-27-0
WEST INDIES A first innings
K. Brathwaite not out 70
A. Fudadin c & b Lakmal 1
K. Edwards b Lakmal 1
L. Johnson c & b V. Perera 12
N. Deonarine not out 58
Total: (for three wickets)        155
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-40.
Bowling: Lakmal 12-2-23-2 (nb-3), V Perera 10.5-2-36-1 (nb-1), M Pushpakumara 9-1-40-0 (nb-1), T Kaushalya 11-0-49-0 (nb-1).