Kraigg Brathwaite completed his first Test hundred as captain, and ninth test century overall, while Rahkeem Cornwall hit his second consecutive half-century, as West Indies were dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 354 on Tuesday’s second day of the second Test.
Brathwaite was the last West Indies wicket to fall on the stroke of lunch for 126 – his ninth Test hundred but first in three years – while Cornwall made 73 to follow up his half-century in the last Test at the same venue.
Resuming the morning at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium on 287 for seven, West Indies flourished through Brathwaite and Cornwall who extended their eighth-wicket stand to 103 – a record against Sri Lanka.
Brathwaite, starting the morning on 99, reached triple figures off the second ball of the opening over with a single to fine leg off pacer Suranga Lakmal, the best visiting bowler with four for 94.
All told, the right-hander faced 311 deliveries in just over 8-½ hours and struck 13 fours.
Cornwall, meanwhile, on 43 at the start, brought up his landmark in the day’s third over with a streaky four behind point off Lakmal.
He had struck 10 fours and a six in an entertaining 92-ball knock lasting a shade over 2-½ hours, when he muscled Lakmal from outside off to Vishwa Fernando at mid-on in the second over following the drinks break.
Seamer Dushmantha Chameera, who ended with three for 69, then finished off the innings by Kemar Roach for nine to give wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella his fifth catch of the innings before getting Brathwaite to chop on a delivery which came back.
CMC
