GALLE, Sri Lanka — Veerasammy Permaul's five-wicket
haul put
Sri Lanka in trouble with the West Indies' batting openers already
chasing down the hosts' lead on day two of the second Test in Galle on Tuesday.
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Rain interrupted play half an hour before tea and it did not
resume, in a match that has been plagued by inclement weather and bad light,
with the tourists trailing by 135.
Permaul's first long-format match in six years helped bowl
out Sri Lanka for 204 on the second day with a career-best 5-35.
"Over the years I've been working hard to get back into
the team and glad it all worked today," he said.
The West Indies' decision to play two left-arm spin
specialists proved a masterstroke against a side heavy with right-handed
batters.
Permaul and fellow left-arm spinner
Jomel Warrican, who
claimed 4-50, cut through the Sri Lankan order on a wicket with plenty of turn
and bounce.
"Great to bowl in tandem with Jomel. He kept things
tight, putting pressure. We are pretty happy with the status quo," Permaul
said.
It was the fourth time in history that West Indies spinners
claimed all 10 wickets in an innings. Off-spinner Roston Chase had claimed
captain
Dimuth Karunaratne on day one with Sri Lanka resuming overnight on 113.
"Great pitch for spinners and there is bounce as well,
which makes them even more dangerous," said Sri Lanka batting coach Grant
Flower.
Sri Lanka bank heavily on skipper Karunaratne and when he
doesn’t deliver, the team struggles against spin.
"Obviously Dimuth is our key player. If he doesn’t get
a big hundred, the others need to put their hands up and cash in," Flower
said.
"Not a good effort by the others but I am sure they
will come good in the second innings."
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood stood more
resolute against Sri Lanka's spin attack, which had demolished the tourists'
top order in their 187-run first Test loss.
Blackwood left on 44 when Praveen Jayawickrama trapped him
leg before, ending a stand of 62.
Overnight batsman Pathum Nissanka had offered a couple of
half chances in the morning, but his luck ran out when Permaul trapped him leg
before wicket for 73 off 148 deliveries.
Permaul had a second wicket in the same over when Dhananjaya
de Silva was caught behind by wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva.
Things went from bad to worse for Sri Lanka when
Angelo Mathews, their most experienced batter, briefly retired with a pulled
hamstring.
He returned after just under eight overs and managed to lift
the team over 200, despite struggling to run between wickets, with consecutive
sixes off Warrican.
He was last man dismissed, for 29, and did not go out to
field.
Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0.
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