Rain setback West Indies victory bid

West Indies suffered a blow to their hopes of winning the first Test in Sri Lanka when torrential rains wrecked the third day of the match, allowing just 30.5 overs today.



Following an absorbing first session, bad light and subsequent heavy showers drove players from the field after just 25 balls in the post-lunch session, leaving the pitch and the outfield at Galle International Stadium under heavy covers.



When the rains arrived, Sri Lanka had reached 165 for no further loss of wickets after resuming from the lunch break at 148 for three, in reply to West Indies’ mammoth first innings of 580 for nine declared



In the 20 minutes play possible after the break, stylish stroke-maker Mahela Jayawardene raised his 37th Test half-century, to be unbeaten on 51 after resuming at 35.



Earlier, Sri Lanka rattled off 94 runs from 26.4 overs in the morning session, thanks largely to captain Kumar Sangakkara’s entertaining 73, in a 71-run third wicket stand with Jayawardene.



West Indies, however, produced a sterling effort to snatch two wickets at crucial stages, prising out opener Tharanga Paranavitana for 10 in the day’s third over before claiming Sangakkara’s prized scalp 15 minutes before lunch.



Pacer Kemar Roach dismissed Paranavitana, while Dwayne Bravo accounted for the wicket of Sangakkara.



Sri Lanka, who resumed this morning on 54 for one, will enter the fourth and penultimate day trailing West Indies by 417 runs on first innings with seven wickets in hand.