Some outstanding bowling performances by Sri Lanka’s left arm spinners Milinda Siriwardana and Rangana Herath, created havoc for the West Indies batsmen throughout the two-Test series. Siriwardana exhibited his all round abilities by scoring 68 and 42 in the second Test match at Colombo. He picked up 2 wickets for 26 runs and 3 for 25 runs in the second match. He was named man of the match after the end of the second Test match. Herath grabbed 15 wickets in the two-Test matches and was named player of the series.
SRI LANKA WON BY 72 RUNS
Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by 72 runs in the second Test match in Colombo. Sri Lanka scored 200 and 206 respectively. Kraigg Brathwaite picked up 6 for 29 in Sri Lanka’s second innings and Jomel Warrican, the left arm spinner from Barbados, grabbed 4 wickets for 67 runs. West Indies scored 163 and 171 respectively. Brathwaite scored 47 runs in the first innings and Darren Bravo 61 in the second.
WEST INDIES SLUMPED FROM 80 FOR 1 TO 171 ALLOUT
A partnership of 60 runs between Bravo and Shai Hope pushed the West Indies to a reasonable score in reaching their victory target of 243. At 80 for 2, the West Indies needed 163 runs with 8 wickets in hand. The West Indies team was bowled out for 171 runs.
SAMUEL BADREE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR TEST CRICKET
The labeling of cricketers as Twenty20 and One-Day Cricketers should be carefully scrutinized. West Indies should be concentrating on building a Test team and emphasis should be on a very strong balanced bowling component. Two spinners are needed for the Test squad and Samuel Badree is not only a Twenty20 player but should be in all three categories of the game.
WEST INDIES BATTING CRUMBLES
West Indies batsmen fell very short during the two-Test series with Sri Lanka. Two half centuries from Darren Bravo and one blistering knock of 92 from Jermaine Blackwood took some shame out of the West Indies’ dressing room. Denesh Ramdin and Marlon Samuels failed miserably while openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope struggled against the Sri Lanka spinners.
NB: Former Captain Denesh Ramdin never should have been on this tour.
W.I., SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA IN TRI-STATE SERIES
In June 2016 there will be a Tri-State Cricket Series involving the West Indies, South Africa and Australia.
ITINERARY
June 6 – Australia vs South Africa in Guyana
June 8 – West Indies vs South Africa in Guyana
June 10 – South Africa vs Australia in St. Kitts
June 15- West Indies vs South Africa in St. Kitts
June 17 – West Indies vs Australia in St. Kitts
June 20 – Australia vs South Africa in Barbados
June 22 – West Indies vs South Africa in Barbados
June 24 – West Indies vs Australia in Barbados
June 26- FINALS in Barbados
