Permaul, Warrican dismantle Sri Lanka on day two

Left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Jomel Warrican wreaked havoc in the first session of day two and put West Indies in the driver's seat in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Tuesday (November 30). 

The two picked up nine wickets between them as Sri Lanka collapsed from 139/1 to 204 all out. In reply, West Indies were 69/1, still trailing by 135 runs, before rain made it presence felt and the day's play had to be called off.

The West Indies' decision to play two left-arm spin specialists proved a masterstroke against a side heavy with right-handed batters. Playing his first Test since June 2015, Permaul claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket, while Warrican picked up four wickets. 

It was the fourth time in history that West Indies spinners claimed all 10 wickets in an innings. Roston Chase had claimed the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne on day one with Sri Lanka resuming overnight on 113. 

In reply, Jermaine Blackwood (44) and Kraigg Brathwaite (22*) batted with a lot more discipline and put on 62 runs for the opening wicket before Praveen Jayawickrama got rid of the former batter. Nkrumah Bonner could face only four deliveries before the play had to be stopped due to rain. The entire third session was washed out, but West Indies did more than enough to take control of the game.

Overnight batters Pathum Nissanka had offered a couple of half chances in the morning but his luck ran out when Permaul trapped him leg before wicket for 73 off 148 deliveries. Permaul had a second wicket in the same over when Dhananjaya de Silva was caught behind by wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva.  

Debutant Charith Asalanka walked in next and got off the mark in Test cricket by reverse sweeping Permaul for four off the second ball he faced. But Permaul soon dismissed him as Nkrumah Bonner at short leg came into action for the bat-pad catch.  

Things went from bad to worse for Sri Lanka when Angelo Mathews, their most experienced batter, briefly retired with a pulled hamstring. He returned after just under eight overs and managed to lift the team over 200, despite struggling to run between wickets, with consecutive sixes off Warrican. 

He was last man dismissed, for 29, and did not come to field.

(With inputs from AFP)