West Indies spinner Warrican strikes to halt Sri Lanka

West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican took four wickets to bundle Sri Lanka out for 200 on day one of the second Test on Thursday, raising hopes of a series-saving victory for the visitors.

The 23-year-old, playing in his first Test, grabbed 4 for 67 off 20 overs, after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo.

Bad light stopped play when the visitors were 17-1 off 5.2 overs in their quest for the first West Indian Test win on Sri Lankan soil. They lost Shai Hope lbw to Dhammika Prasad in the very first over for just four. With Kraigg Brathwaite on four not out was the nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo on five.

Warrican took the scalps of Milinda Siriwardana, who top-scored for the Sri Lankans with 68, and tailenders Dhammika Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep, as the hosts slid from 145 for 6 at tea to be all out in just 66 overs.

Siriwardana, playing only his second Test, was caught deep on the boundary trying to hit Warrican for his third six. He struck six fours in his maiden Test 50. Rangana Herath, who was 26 not out, was the next-highest scorer. 

Sri Lanka won the first Test in the southern coastal town of Galle by an innings. But the hosts suffered an early collapse on Thursday, losing four wickets before lunch and another two before tea.Jerome Taylor clean-bowled Dinesh Chandimal for 25 after the batsman’s century in the first Test proved instrumental in Sri Lanka’s win. Kusal Perera was caught and bowled by Warrican for 16.