Test hit by rain, bad light

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (CMC):

Heavy rain again swept across this central Sri Lankan town to offer West Indies refuge, after the hosts' spinners grabbed two valuable wickets to once more swing the balance of power in the third and final Test yesterday.

Careless batting from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo gifted wickets to Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath, as West Indies stumbled to 244 for five in their first innings, before a combination of rain and bad light cut short the second day, with a minimum of 57 overs remaining.

The weather seemed to mirror West Indies' position on another rain-spoilt day, as sunny weather smiled on them when they arrived at the Pallekele International Stadium, and there was a prompt start.

The two sides contested 32 overs in the morning period, but only nine overs were possible before bad light and rain enveloped the ground about 35 minutes after the scheduled lunch interval, and the players retreated to the comfort of the dressing rooms.

Early tea break

This led to an early tea break, but the weather never relented, and it wiped out the entire final period.

Seasonal monsoon weather has dogged the series, which is still level at 0-0, following two rain-hit draws at the Galle International Stadium and the Premadasa Stadium.

Out of the statutory minimum of 450 overs-a-Test, only 340 overs were possible in the first Test, and 212.5 overs were achieved in the second.

After Darren Bravo, Dwayne's younger brother, was dismissed in the first hour for the top score so far of 68, Brendan Nash made an unbeaten 63, and Chanderpaul gathered 54 to consolidate West Indies' position in a stand of 99 for the fourth wicket.

But their hard work became unstuck when Mendis and Herath struck in the space of nine balls, and in the twinkling of an eye West Indies sunk from the comfort of 241 for three to 242 for five before the weather prevented the Sri Lankan spinners from doing further damage.

Chanderpaul reached his 50 from 131 balls, when he bottom-edged a sweep at a delivery from Herath to the deep fine leg boundary for his third four.

The obdurate left-hander lasted just 14 balls more before he tried to steer a delivery from Mendis past Mahela Jayawardene at slip and was smartly caught left-handed, low down by the former Sri Lanka captain.

West Indies 1st Innings

(overnight 134 for two)

D.M. Bravo lbw b Fernando 68

S. Chanderpaul c M.

Jayawardene b Mendis 54B. Nash not out 62

D.J. Bravo st P. Jayawardene

b Herath 0+C. Baugh Jr not out 0Extras (lb2, w1, nb2) 5

TOTAL (5 wkts, 81 overs) 244

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gayle), 2-115 (D.S. Smith), 3-142 (D.M. Bravo), 4-241 (Chanderpaul), 5-242 (D.J. Bravo)

Bowling: Lakmal 16-5-35-1; Mathews 10-4-34-0; Dilshan 10-1-20-0; Fernando 15-2-72-1 (w1); Mendis 18-3-51-2 (nb2); Herath 12-2-30-1

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Asad Rauf, B. Oxenford