CMC – Four batsmen scored half centuries to put West Indies Academy in a strong position against Sri Lanka Emerging Players at the close of play of the second four-day match here at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Resuming the day on 82 for one in response to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 241, the Academy was bolstered by fifties from Mavendra Dindyal, Rivaldo Clarke, Teddy Bishop and Ackeem Auguste on their way to piling up 375 in 99.3 overs.

Armed with a first-innings lead of 134, fast bowler Kelvin Pitman then struck in the day’s final over to reduce the visitors to 1-1 heading into Monday’s third day.
Earlier, Auguste added just three runs to his overnight 47 before he was trapped, lbw, by Melan Hasanka to leave the Academy 86 for two.

But Dindyal, who top-scored with 82, and Bishop, who struck an even 50, added 127 runs for the third wicket to carry the Academy past the 200 mark.
With Dindyal in sight of a century, he lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera, after facing 158 balls and striking seven fours and two sixes.
Four runs later, Sudeera trapped Bishop, lbw, to reduce the Academy to 218 for four.

However, batting at number six, Clarke anchored the lower order with an unbeaten knock of 57, to help frustrate Sri Lanka’s bowlers for the latter part of the evening session.
He shared crucial partnerships of 40 with Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, who scored 37 and 75 with Nathan Edward, who hit a quickfire 37 off 47 balls.

Sri Lanka fought back, though, claiming the last four wickets for just 14 runs, with left-arm pacer Dulaj Samuditha grabbing two of those wickets.
Clarke finished unbeaten on 57 from 110 balls with eight fours.

Sudeera led Sri Lanka’s bowlers with 4-79, while Ashian Daniel took 3-74 and Samuditha ended with 2-74.