HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, CMC – A batting meltdown overshadowed off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s five-wicket haul and cost West Indies A dearly, as they were left facing an uphill battle to save the first unofficial “Test” against Sri Lanka A here yesterday.At the close of the second day, the Caribbean side was struggling at 96 for 7, in response to the hosts’ 413 all out at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, as they were put undone by leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna who sliced through the innings to finish with 5 for 24.
West Indies A trail by 307 runs with three wickets intact, and two days remaining in the contest, after Shillingford had early hauled them back into the contest, taking 5 for 160 to wreck Sri Lanka A’s middle and lower order.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (2-43) and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-87) supported Shillingford with two wickets apiece.
Resuming from their overnight 261 for two, Sri Lanka pushed on mainly through Dinesh Chandimal who converted his overnight unbeaten 29 not out into 87.
In the process, he stretched his third wicket stand with Lahiru Thirimanne to 71, even though the left-handed Thirimanne adding just eight to his overnight 85.
Chandimal, who hit nine fours and two sixes off 121 balls, also put on 51 for the fourth wicket with Jehan Mubarak who made 25.
Sri Lanka A cruised to 371 for four but Shillingford intervened to ensure the last six wickets fell for just 42 runs.
There was no sign of the collapse to come when Assad Fudadin and Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite were adding 44 for the first wicket, as West Indies A started positively.
The left-handed Fudadin top-scored with 32, made off 57 balls with three fours while the right-handed Brathwaite struck four fours in his 36-ball stay at the crease.
Brathwaite eventually perished lbw to Prasanna but even then, Fudadin and Test batsman Kirk Edwards (13) pushed the score up to 65 without further loss.
However, once Prasanna deceived Fudadin and had him stumped, the innings quickly went into decline as six wickets tumbled for 31 runs and much will now rest on wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton who was unbeaten on ten at the close.