Rain set to break Kandy jinx
Sri Lanka's Kandy jinx looks set to be broken after a second day marred by bad weather which is likely to led to a draw in the second match of this three-Test series
Charlie Austin
23-Nov-2001
Sri Lanka's Kandy jinx looks set to be broken after a second day marred by
bad weather which is likely to led to a draw in the second match of this
three-Test series.
Only 73 minutes of play were possible after prolonged rain on Thursday night
delayed the scheduled start by four hours.
During the time available West Indies quickly wrapped up the Sri Lankan
innings, but then lost an early wicket to leave them on 39 for one when play
was abandoned for the day.
Left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins struck in the first over the day as he
clean bowled Nuwan Zoysa for 23.
That brought local hero Muttiah Muralitharan to the wicket. In August he had
swatted and spaded the Indian bowlers all over the ground during his highly
entertaining maiden half-century, but he failed to repeat his heroics and
was caught at mid on for four.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 288.
Nuwan Zoysa, playing his first Test match since Sri Lanka played England in
March at Kandy, over eight months ago, struck with his very first delivery
back.
Daren Ganga followed a wide short-of-a-length delivery and guided it lamely
into the safe hands of Mahela Jayawardene at third slip.
Chris Gayle, short of runs in Galle, then showed that he was still in prime
form, hitting four powerful boundaries in his 25, including two resounding
pulls off Zoysa.
Chaminda Vaas encouraged a couple airy wafts as he swung the ball away from
the left-hander, but West Indies lost no further wickets before the close.