A patient century from Thilan Samaraweera helped Sri Lanka recover to 268 all out at the close of play on the third day of the second Test on Saturday, setting West Indies a victory target of 253.
The tourists were reeling at 99 for six but a seventh-wicket stand of 138 between Samaraweera (125) and Chaminda Vaas (45) hauled Sri Lanka back into the game and the pressure will now be on West Indies's batsmen on a track showing plenty of life.
Earlier, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (5-79) picked up two of the last three wickets in the morning session to dismiss West Indies for 294, a first-innings lead of 16 for the home team.
Sri Lanka then slumped to four for two, Malinda Warnapura caught by debutant Sewnarine Chattergoon at third slip for a duck as he poked at a rising delivery from the fiery Jerome Taylor.
Taylor then ran out Michael Vandort for one in superb style, pouncing on a ball pushed to mid-on by Kumar Sangakkara and leaving the opener stranded with a direct hit.
Sri Lanka's woes continued when skipper Mahela Jayawardene (12) chopped at a ball from Fidel Edwards and got an inside edge on to his stumps.
Daren Powell claimed the next victim when Sangakkara (14) cut a rising delivery for Samuels to take a fine diving catch in the gully.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, who held together Sri Lanka's batting in the first innings, set about steadying the ship and he put on 41 with Samaraweera for the fifth wicket.
Taylor then cut a ball back between his bat and pad to bowl Dilshan for 25, a breakthrough that was followed after lunch by the removal of Chamara Silva for 13.
With Vaas playing a good supporting role, Samaraweera carefully selected his shots to reach his hundred in 173 balls with 15 fours.
Vaas finally fell, caught behind off captain Chris Gayle's off spin, before Thilan Thushara (10) was also caught behind off Dwayne Bravo.
Samaraweera's 199-ball knock came to an end near the close when he was run out after more superb work from Samuels in the deep.
Taylor finished with four for 52.
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka (1st first innings): 278 (T. Dilshan 62, C. Silva 76)
West Indies (1st innings): (overnight 268 for seven)
C. Gayle c Vandort b Thushara 45
S. Chattergoon b Vaas 46
R. Sarwan c Warnapura b Muralitharan 57
M. Samuels lbw b Muralitharan 3
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Thushara 18
D. Smith b Muralitharan 47
D. Bravo lbw b Amerasinghe 26
D. Ramdin c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 13
J. Taylor lbw b Vaas 13
D. Powell lbw b Muralitharan 3
F. Edwards not out 1
Extras: (lb-5 w-2 nb-15) 22
Total: (all out, 76.2 overs) 294
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-137, 3-141, 4-177, 5-199, 6-246, 7-266, 8-289, 9-291 10-294
Bowling: Vaas 23-1-76-2 (nb-8), Amerasinghe 12-1-62-1, Thushara 12-0-72-2 (nb-5, w-1), Muralitharan 29.2-4-79-5 (nb-2).
Sri Lanka (2nd innings):
M. Vandort run out 1
M. Warnapura c Chattergoon b Taylor 0
K. Sangakkara c Samuels b Powell 14
M. Jayawardene b Edwards 12
T. Samaraweera run out 125
T. Dilshan b Taylor 25
C. Silva c Samuels b Taylor 13
C. Vaas c Ramdin b Gayle 45
T. Thushara c Ramdin b Bravo 10
M. Muralitharan c Powell b Taylor 4
I. Amerasinghe not out 0
Extras: (b-1, lb-10, w-6, nb-2) 19
Total: (all out, 75.1 overs) 268
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-4, 3-32, 4-32, 5-73, 6-99, 7-237, 8-252, 9-268.
Bowling: Powell 13-4-49-1 (w-5), Taylor 15.1-1-52-4 (w-1), Edwards 14-1-62-1 (nb-2), Bravo 19-5-64-1, Gayle 14-0-30-1
