West Indies collapse to Vaas

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas took a career best seven for 120 for Sri Lanka as the West Indies, despite 221 from Brian Lara, failed to make the most of a strong position on the second day of the third and final Test.

The West Indies, resuming at 327 for three in their first innings, were dismissed in the first over after lunch for 390.

At the close, Sri Lanka had scored 193 for three, with skipper Sanath Jayasuriya missing out on a hundred when he was dismissed for 85, seven overs before the players came off for bad light. The home side lead the series 2-0.

Lara stood like a colossus amongst the ruins of the West Indies batting, making the fourth double century of his career.

The former captain batted for 447 minutes and faced 354 balls, hitting two sixes and 23 fours in his innings.

When Sri Lanka batted, Jayasuriya shared in stands of 99 with Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 55 with six fours, and 75 with Mahela Jayawardene who is unbeaten on 32.

Jayasuriya, batting rather sedately by his standards, hit nine fours and a six in his 166-ball innings.

The day, however, belonged to Vaas who ripped through the West Indies batting taking five wickets for 28 off 10.2 overs with the second new ball.

Vaas destroyed the West Indies batting bowling reverse swing in the second Test at Kandy, but here it was with the new ball that he caused a West Indies collapse which saw the last seven wickets fall for 43 runs.

Lara and Carl Hooper put on 136 for the fourth wicket before Hooper became Vaas's first victim of the day, falling lbw for 56.

Vaas's haul of seven wickets improved on his previous best bowling in a test of six for 73 against England on this same ground in March. It was also the sixth time he had taken five wickets in an innings.

Mail Cricket Editor