Dowrich carries Windies on opening day

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Several Windies batsmen got starts but failed to carry on, leaving wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to hold the innings together, on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Opting to bat first in good conditions at Queen's Park Oval, the Windies finished the day on 246 for six, with the right-handed Dowrich unbeaten on a compact 46 and tail-ender Devendra Bishoo yet to score.

Stroke-maker Shai Hope produced a classy 44 and captain Jason Holder struck 40, while Roston Chase and Kieran Powell both gathered 38.

WORST ENEMIES

Pacer Lahiru Kumara was impressive, leading the Sri Lanka attack with three for 57.

However, the Windies proved their own worst enemy, squandering the advantage every time they looked poised to take control of the innings.

They suffered an early blow when they lost usually prolific opener Kraigg Brathwaite for just three with four runs on the board, caught at the wicket off seamer Suranga Lakmal in the third over of the morning.

There was no fairytale comeback for Devon Smith. Playing his first Test in three years, he also fell cheaply for seven after adding 36 for the second wicket with Powell.

He spent nearly an hour-and-a-half at the crease without much of the strike before failing to beat Kumara's throw from short mid-wicket to Dickwella, as he and Powell attempted a sharp single.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1st innings

K Brathwaite c wkp Dickwella b Lakmal 3

D Smith run out 7

K Powell b Kumara 38

S Hope c wkp Dickwella b Kumara 44

R Chase c Mathews b Herath 38

+S Dowrich not out 46

*J Holder c wkp Dickwella b Kumara 40

D Bishoo not out 0

Extras (b10, lb14, w2, nb4) 30

TOTAL (6 wkts, 84 overs) 246

To bat: K Roach, Ml Cummins, S Gabriel.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-40, 3-80, 4-134, 4-147, 5-237.

Bowling: Lakmal 16-4-38-1, Gamage 18-5-44-0, D Perera 16-1-42-0, Kumara 18-1-57-3, Herath 16-4-41-1.

SRI LANKA - *D Chandimal, K Perera, K Mendis, A Mathews, R Silva, +N Dickwella, D Perera, R Herath, S Lakmal, L Gamage, L Kumara.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Richard Kettleborough; TV - Ian Gould.