SHENLEY, England, (CMC) - Ever-reliable Ridley Jacobs became the third centurion of the innings and Omari Banks just missed out on a maiden hundred, but the energetic all-rounder returned later in the day to take three wickets that put the West Indies firmly in control after two days of their three-day match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ yesterday.
Following in the wake of first-day hundreds by Sylvester Joseph and Dwayne Bravo, the 36-year-old Jacobs displayed his usual muscular determination in compiling an unbeaten 117, while Banks’ dismissal for 90 prompted the declaration at 534 for seven an hour after lunch.
Undaunted by that formidable total, the Sri Lankans sped along at over four runs per over in reaching 234 for three, but Banks enhanced his reputation as a quality utility player in triggering a mini-slide that left the opposition uncomfortably placed at 271 for six at stumps.
Opening batsman Ian Daniel is the top scorer so far, hitting a fluent 72 off 86 balls with 13 fours before falling to pacer Fidel Edwards. It was the lone bright spot for the young Barbadian pacer, as he was flayed mercilessly by all the batsmen, conceding 82 runs off ten overs, one of which, incredibly, was a maiden.
Having gone wicketless in the previous first-class fixture against an MCC XI at Arundel, Edwards looks like the one to miss out when the team is announced for the First Test against England starting on Thursday at Lord’s.
Following his aggressive 118 on Saturday, Bravo enhanced his prospects for a Test debut in three days’ time when he broke a 92-run opening partnership as Shantha Kalavitigoda (27) drove his third delivery to Tino Best at mid-off.
The all-rounder should have claimed a second wicket but Devon Smith dropped a regulation chance offered at second slip off captain Jehan Mubarak.
Smith made amends later in the evening in the same position to give Best his first wicket when Malintha Gajanayake (29) pushed indeterminately at a full-length delivery on off-stump.
Mubarak never looked comfortable to the short-pitched deliveries from Edwards, Best and Jermaine Lawson, but the slim left-hander soldiered on, top-edging two attempted hooks over the wicketkeeper’s head for six and stroking four more orthodox boundaries in 61 before driving Banks into the waiting hands of Dwayne Smith at short extra-cover to set his team back at 234 for four.
One run later, Bathiya Perera (19) swung at Banks and the ball rebounded off the body of short-leg fielder Devon Smith - who had to leave the field for treatment - into the waiting gloves of Jacobs.
The tall off-spinner then lured Kaushal Lokuarachchi into one big hit too many and scooped a simple catch to Edwards at mid-on, giving him figures of three for 50 off 12 overs.
A sunnier day is forecast for the last day, today, with Prasanna Jayawardene (16 not out) and Thushara (9 not out) hoping to frustrate the West Indies at bit longer, although it is debatable whether Sarwan will choose to bat again or enforce the follow on if the Sri Lankans, as expected, are dismissed for less than 384.
Early-morning rain delayed the start by 45 minutes, but Banks and Jacobs made up for lost time in plundering 102 runs in the hour and a quarter to the lunch interval.
The tall Anguillan was the more impressive of the two, blasting 24 runs in one over to off-spinner Suraj Mohamed - including two straight hits for six - to reach 50 off 52 balls.
At the other end, Jacobs was pedestrian by comparison, but had earlier brought up his half-century off 104 deliveries with seven fours.
The carnage continued after the break, Banks launching three more sixes - all over long-off or long-on - while Jacobs stepped up a gear in reaching his hundred off 158 balls with one six and 13 fours.
Banks looked destined to register a first first-class hundred a day after his 22nd birthday, but a miscued pull off seamer Thilan Thushara presented a simple catch for Gajanayake running back from first slip to end a thoroughly entertaining innings and an equally enjoyable seventh-wicket partnership of 183 runs with the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman.
With a possible 57 overs to the close of play, all of the West Indies bowlers on show were given ample opportunity to impress, although the benign nature of the pitch and the quality of the Sri Lankan ‘A’ batsmen meant that any indiscretion in line and length was punished severely.
Edwards proved the most wayward and expensive but none of the other pacers appeared particularly threatening although Best and Lawson were much more economical in contrast, while Banks’ penchant for picking up wickets would have dispelled any lingering doubts about his place for the Lord’s Test.
WEST INDIES 1st innings
Devon Smith c Gajanayake b Kulasekara 6
R.Sarwan c Mubarak b Lokuarachchi 28
S.Joseph b Lokuarachchi 114
S. Chanderpaul run-out 32
D. Bravo c Mubarak b Prasad 118
Dwayne Smith run-out 8
R. Jacobs not out 117
O. Banks c Gajanayake b Thushara 90
Extras: (b-4, lb-9, w-3, nb-5) 21
Total: (7 wkts - declared) 534
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-79, 3-173, 4-192, 5-211, 6-351, 7-534.