West Indies put up a brilliant show with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka to 204 before finishing Day 2 of the second Test match, at Galle, on 69/1. They have a deficit of 135 runs now. The final session was washed out due to persistent drizzle.
Sri Lanka's dependency on Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka was laid bare as their last eight batters combined for just 89 runs. Oshada Fernando was the first man to be dismissed in the day: he edged one to Joshua Da Silva on 18.
Nissanka, unbeaten overnight, was pinned leg-before by Veerasammy Permaul for 73. Permaul soon accounted for Charith Asalanka and Dhanajaya de Silva, neither of whom got going.
Angelo Matthews (29) retired hurt, but returned to hit two successive sixes to drag Sri Lanka to 204. The West Indian spinners – Permaul (5-35), Jomel Warrican (4-50), and Roston Chase (1-64) accounted for all ten dismissals.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood (44) then got West Indies off a steady start, adding 62 for the opening stand before the latter fell to Praveen Jayawickrama. Stumps were called two overs after that.
Sri Lanka 204 (Pathum Nissanka 73; Veerasammy Permaul 5-35, Jomel Warrican 4-50) lead West Indies 69/1 (Jermaine Blackwood 44; Praveen Jayawickrama) by 135 runs.