END OF OVER:107 | (wicket maiden) | SL: 258/10
- Lasith Embuldeniya5 (21b)
- Kemar Roach18-5-58-3
- Shannon Gabriel16-3-37-1
Hamdan Mukthar: "What I told earlier has been occurred. WI have a big chance now. They should score faster and increase the lead to 300 - 320 and declare by evening session today." -- Think they would prefer a lead of around 350.
Dennis in Canad: "Who is Walsh Jr. Subbing for Hemant? I seem to have lost track of who was injured." -- Nkrumah Bonner
Peachjay: "This kid Pathum Nissanka might be the find of this tour and could be a long stay in SL. Seems to have cool heads and puts a price on his wicket,belying his age. Hope he is nurtured well to get SL back to its more competitive days!"
9.51am So it took West Indies about 20 minutes to wrap up Sri Lanka's innings. Sri Lanka could muster up only eight runs this morning and that means West Indies have healthy lead of 96. Their openers should be back on the field soon. Don't go far away.
MVT Fernando c †Da Silva b Roach 0 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Fernando
P Nissanka c sub (HR Walsh) b Roach 51 (192m 131b 4x4 0x6) SR: 38.93
END OF OVER:106 | 1 Run | SL: 258/8
- Lasith Embuldeniya5 (21b)
- Pathum Nissanka51 (127b)
- Shannon Gabriel16-3-37-1
- Kemar Roach17-4-58-1
Around the wicket now
Three slip, a gully, a forward short leg and a leg slip
A bat-pad in place now
END OF OVER:105 | 4 Runs | SL: 257/8
- Lasith Embuldeniya5 (19b)
- Pathum Nissanka50 (123b)
- Kemar Roach17-4-58-1
- Shannon Gabriel15-3-36-1
Kemar Roach from the other end. Around the wicket
END OF OVER:104 | 3 Runs | SL: 253/8
- Lasith Embuldeniya1 (13b)
- Pathum Nissanka50 (123b)
- Shannon Gabriel15-3-36-1
- Alzarri Joseph22-4-64-2
Around the wicket
Jerome: "Nissanka the key here - if Sri Lanka bat for long enough then this match is destined for a draw"
9.15am Rain has increased the chances of a draw, but if West Indies can wrap up Sri Lanka's innings quickly - they need two more wickets and are 104 ahead - they can then bat for most of the day and set a target of around 350. They will then have a day and a bit to take ten wickets.
But in their way is young Pathum Nissanka. Playing in his just second Test, he is unbeaten on 49. Can he, with the help of the tail, eat away some of the lead?
Tony: "Any chances of rain today or tomorrow??" -- As per the weather forecast, there isn't but one is never 100% sure.
9.00am Hello and welcome back. On a rain-marred third day, West Indies made further progress, picking up five wickets in 42.1 overs that were possible in the whole day's place. To make up the overs, we have an early start today as well as tomorrow. Here's Andrew Fidel Fernando's day three report in case you missed the action yesterday.
5.41 pm The match officials are coming back off the field while the ground staff keep blowing on the corners of the square with the leafblowers. Both captains are being called over for a discussion. Joel Wilson is doing all the talking. Lots of arm waving going on. Now everyone has dispersed. Play has been called off for the day. Very frustrating for the players as well as everyone following the match from at home or work around the world. Come back tomorrow morning for what will hopefully be a much better day weather wise. Play will start 30 minutes earlier at 9.30 am local time for the last two days to make up some of the lost overs. Until then, take care!
5.38 pm Match referee Richie Richardson has joined the umpires on field inspecting conditions. The ground staff have now brought out some leaflblowers to try to dry out the damp patches just off the square. It's looking very unlikely that play will resume today the longer this charade goes on. Less than 25 minutes before the official close of play and it'll take the players at least 10 minutes to get ready to come back out again once the match officials declare the field fit for play.
5.27 pm Covers are still off but the umpires are having a lengthy chat about whether the field is fit to resume. Light is becoming an issue now as well. Very overcast and the stadium floodlights are on but it's still quite dark. In addition to that, the umpires seem concerned with some damp patches just off the square. There's already a very very healthy sprinkling of sawdust put down in an effort to dry up some of those spots.
5.16 pm After a short, sharp burst, the rain has stopped and the covers are being taken back off again.
5.06 pm Gahhhhhhhh! The skies have burst open again and the covers are being sprinted out. Yet another delay today. Play is still possible until 6 pm. They've covered not just the square but the bowler's run-ups. Doesn't look too bleak overhead with clear skies all around the ground. Just a small yet intense very dark patch that was hovering over the ground but it has passed now.
Gabriel is back into the attack replacing Holder.
