West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Gros Islet, Jun 14 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Hope you've enjoyed our coverage right through the five days. Patches of controversy, some excellent cricket otherwise. Pity the weather didn't hold off for us to veer towards a natural conclusion, but that notwithstanding, this has been an intense Test. Would love to have your company for the historic Day-Night Test in Barbados from June 24. Until then, this is Shashank Kishore and Akshay Gopalakrishnan signing off. Don't forget to check out Andrew Fidel Fernando's match bulletin that should be updated very soon. Promises to be quite busy. Expect a verdict from the ICC on Dinesh Chandimal shortly too. Cheers!

Time for the presentation

Jason Holder: Happy, we played reasonable cricket, probably not at our best. We weren't as consistent and disciplined as we should've been. They played well. All in all, a decent effort, I thought we were more clinical in Trinidad. Getting wickets off no-balls is a concern, something we need to pay attention to. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Man of the Match Shannon Gabriel: It's a great feeling (100 wickets). If someone told me 'Shannon, you'll play Tests and take 100 wickets, I would've told him you're crazy!" I'd like to thank family and friends for supporting me. I was prepared well for this series, getting myself fit. As long as you get wickets, pains and aches go away. I was supported well by Kemar, he was unlucky. Miguel Cummins kept coming at the batsmen. Holder was also very good. We can take plenty of positives from this Test.

Dinesh Chandimal:

I'm really happy with the way we played through the five days. Weather permitting, there was a chance, but pleased overall. Credit to the West Indies bowling attack, they've got some good bowlers. It's hard to score big runs under these conditions. We have to improve a little more. We went in with Akila Dananjaya this game, it was a tactical call. Rangana is a legend. I thought Akila bowled well. Credit also to Gabriel, his hard work has paid off.

That's the end of that. Game called off. Match drawn. West Indies will go into their historic Day-Night Test at Bridgetown with a 1-0 lead. No prizes for guessing who the Player of the Match is: Shannon Gabiel. , whose 13 for 121 is the third-best by a West Indies fast bowler in their storied history.

5.35pm The main square remains wrapped under covers. There's drizzle too. A resumption looking increasingly unlikely. Expect a decision anytime now.

Divy: "Full circle for Lankans in this test. First they didn't want to take the pitch, now they leave it grudgingly. Not a good sight for any team. "

Aditya: "Still don't understand all the comments asking the Windies to go for it. A hard fought draw like this one is not something the ICC should be trying to prevent. The issue of draws was the boring ones on flat pitches where scores were around 600+ each innings."

5.10pm Aleem Dar has a long chat with Chandimal. Sri Lankans don't want to walk off. They are now walking off eventually. Don't see how the light can improve from here. If at all, it can only get darker.

5.07pm It's getting murky. Decision coming very soon. Umpires aren't too satisfied with the light. Chandimal shakes his head. The batsmen have walked off the field, even as the Sri Lankans stay put near the crease. Chandimal walks up to the umpires to ask for the reading, he doesn't seem too pleased. But there isn't much he can do.

Short leg, leg gully, short midwicket, two slips, gully in place.

It's getting dark. Could become a factor sooner than expected. Aleem looks at the reading, Ian Gould walks up to join him. They've rested the light meter on the stumps, in place of the bails. Not sure why. Then he removes the instrument and slots the bails back in. Chandimal looks on. West Indies ain't complaining.

Aleem Dar calls for the light meter.

American Cricket: "No matter what, I think Gabriel deserves MoM at the end of this match. He's bowled his heart out and deserves it"

Kumara is back

Jerome: "As a Windies fan, would want the boys to give it a go. We are T20 specialists, let's put it to good use! No guts, no glory."

Last hour to start at 5.22pm or when 15 overs remain

4.50pm 23 overs remaining, play to resume. The players are out there, the light is okay for now. Best news possible, isn't it? Attacking fields for Lakmal.

I'm afraid we're moving closer to the edge, with a decision likely anytime soon. Windies fans, would you rather see play being called off and head to Barbados 1-0 or resume and see your lower order try and fight it out, with the risk of losing?

4.45pm This is as good a time as any for you'll to catch up on our best content from last week. No prizes for guessing what features prominently. Trust me, it's all good stuff.

Navjot S Bhatia: "Should we not have some standards wrt the drainage capabilities of a ground hosting international matches..? This match deserved a result .. and will go down the history books as a tame DRAW... Test Cricket Deserves better... what say?" -- Absolutely. Remember a Test from 2016 in Port of Spain when India toured where we had four day of bright sunshine and no cricket.

Okay, it may seem greek and latin to those just tuning in. So here's a blow-by-blow account of how and why the ball tampering episode unfolded earlier in this Test.

Stephen Blomfie: "So with a draw now looking likely the focus now switches to the post match hearing into the SL captain. I'm still shocked he hasn't (yet) been hit with a 2nd charge for dissenting the umpires decision by refusing to play. It's significantly brought the game into disrepute - Thoughts anyone?"

5pm was supposed to be the scheduled close, with half hour extension to make up for the overs. But delays over the last four days means we can go upto 6pm. All weather permitting, of course.

4.28pm Still no sign of play. Waiting for an update from the ground. We hear the mop up operations are on, but the outfield's water absorption capacity isn't the best. The shower we witnessed was a sharp one. Eating into time for Sri Lanka. Looks like it could be 1-0 heading into Barbados at this stage, but who knows? Anyone fancy a Kumara special upon resumption?

Vinod Ahir: "Next Match WI should place four quicks and a lone spinner in Chase. Go the 80s way. Fast, faster, fastest." -- And also hope a Barbados pitch of the 1980s welcomes them?

AlistairDiamond: "Really a Royal Enfield? Do you mean a modern one that uses the Royal Enfield brand name although it's a completely different bike, or an original 500cc RE, last made in 1970?" -- Jeez, well before my time that.

Harley: "Kawasaki Ninja or Suzuki?" -- Good old Royal Enfield.

AJ: "Think it was day three. Ian Bishop in commentary was having a look at Brathwaite's technique and found he was actually batting side on which resulted in him driving on the move, hence nicking off, any noticeable change to correct this?" -- Not really, tends to get squared up most often, thereby missing out on regulation opportunities to pick runs on the leg side. Also has a unique technique, where in he jabs at deliveries in trying to blunt them Has worked so far.

Salman: "I think Mohammad Ali has mixed two different Brathwaite. Because I don't think that Kraigg Brathwaite is a power hitter. It is Carlos Brathwaite." -- Bingo.

Karthik Sekar: "No need to show off that you have a 500cc bike" -- Come on, mate. We need to keep ourselves entertained during rain breaks.

Waqas Abdullah: "Imagine, first ball after the break and a wicket, game will be damn hot and ON :) "

Tathagat Behera: "Gabriel possess excellent pace with bounce.. Roach has swing..if others support them and they play a good amount of Tests, they will surely improve." -- Hey, broadcasters these days want TRPs, not improvements. What else explains Bangladesh's scheduled Tests in Australia being cancelled? Sad reality of our times.

Muhammad Ali: "Am I the only one who still believe that W Indies can still win this game. As there is two power hitter at the crease." -- Power hitter, who? I'm ready to sign my 500cc motorbike in your name if this happens, Muhammad :)

4.15pm We're still hoping for play. Pity about the weather but what a cracking Test this has been. Now for it to run its course and have a sitting last hour. My colleague Srinath Sripath, who is supposed to be on leave, has tuned in too, wondering if those two hours could come back to haunt the visitors. Hey, Srinath? How about trying to catch some sleep? I'll wake you up when Sri Lanka win this.

Fahad Nasim: "That two-hour protest could cost Sri Lanka this game."

Sewnarine: "I have been closely watching this game. Swung wildly from one side to the other. Sri Lanka, West Indies, then late fightback to set a competitive target. Early wickets, dogged fight, rain. Phew. So many emotions. Shall I hang in?" --- You should.

Girdhari Ramlal: "I bet Sri Lanka wish they had those two hours now." -- Of that there couldn't be much doubt.

4pm "Thankfully, the sun is shining now and hopefully the covers should go off," tweets commentator Roshan Abeysinghe. Every minute lost will make the Sri Lankan players that much more edgy.

Alright, I'm off for a bit. Over to Shashank for the rain watch/resumption.

3.32pm And the groundstaff run out with the covers. As expected, the rain has arrived. This is later than when it did on the past couple of days, but today's forecast was the worst of all. Let's see how long this lasts. But this can only be good news for West Indies. And the outfield here takes quite a beating. Even mild rains take a while to recover from. Time is short. Every minute lost will hurt Sri Lanka.

Aman Agarwal: "Honestly, this match stands as evidence to the fact that Test cricket needs saving. 1. Thus far, it has shown the existing ambiguity in cricket laws which are still lacking in providing stick to the offender(s). 2. Despite the controversy surrounding this match and after such a closely fought encounter, the stands are still resigned to low attendance. 3. Despite being a 5 day affair, it is often frustrating to see competitive matches end in a draw, thanks to the weather and circumstances."

Groundstaff getting around again