With the West Indies batting openers already chasing down Sri Lanka’s lead by early tea on day two of the second test in Galle on Tuesday, Veerasammy Permaul’s five-wicket haul has placed Sri Lanka in difficulty.
Rain stopped play 30 minutes before the planned break in a contest marred by adverse weather and poor lighting, with the tourists losing by 135 points.
With a career-best 5-35 on the second day, Permaul’s first long-format encounter in six years helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 204.
Against a side heavy on right-handed batsmen, the West Indies’ decision to deploy two left-arm spin specialists proved to be a masterstroke.
On a pitch with lots of turn and bounce, Permaul and fellow left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who collected 4-50, sliced through the Sri Lankan order.
The West Indies spinners grabbed all ten wickets in an innings for the fourth time in history. On day one, offspinner Roston Chase claimed skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, with Sri Lanka resuming on 113.
The tourists’ top order had been destroyed by Sri Lanka’s spin attack in their 187-run first-test loss, so openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood were more resolute.
Praveen Jayawickrama trapped Blackwood leg before on 44, ending a 62-minute stand.
When Sri Lanka unsuccessfully challenged for lbw with Brathwaite on 22, they lost a review.
Pathum Nissanka, the overnight batter, had given Permaul a couple of half-chances in the morning, but his luck ran out when he was caught leg before wicket for 73 off 148 deliveries.
Dhananjaya de Silva was caught behind by wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva in the same over, giving Permaul a second wicket.
Then came debutant Charith Asalanka, who got off to a good start in test cricket by reverse sweeping Permaul for four on the first ball he faced.
Nkrumah Bonner at short leg came into action for the bat-pad catch, prompting Permaul to dismiss him.
When Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka’s most seasoned hitter, was forced to quit due to a pulled hamstring, things got even worse.
With successive sixes off Warrican, he returned after just under eight overs and lifted the team over 200, despite laboring to run between wickets.
He was the last man to be disqualified for 29 yards and did not return to the field.
Sri Lanka has a 1-0 advantage in the two-match series.