Samaraweera saves Sri Lanka from peril

Apr 05, 2008

West Indies started the day needing 11 runs to take the first-innings lead. The tailenders found the going tough against Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas•AFP

Muralitharan took the two other wickets as West Indies were bowled out for 294, a lead of 16. Muralitharan finished with 5 for 79, his 63rd five-wicket haul in Tests•AFP

Tillakaratne Dilshan made a brisk 25 ...•AFP

Thilan Samaraweera was unsettled by a bouncer from Fidel Edwards ... •AFP

Samaraweera went on to score a vital century, and extended his seventh-wicket stand with Vaas to 138 runs, as he helped Sri Lanka set West Indies a target of 253•AFP

A few close lbw appeals went West Indies' way but Chaminda Vaas finally trapped Jerome Taylor lbw•AFP

Shortly into Sri Lanka's second innings, West Indies had reason to rejoice. Jerome Taylor, seen here celebrating with Dwayne Bravo, had Malinda Warnapura caught in the slips while he accounted for Michael Vandort with a direct hit to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 4 for 2•AFP

... before losing his stumps•AFP

... but he soon found his composure•AFP

When Daren Powell had Kumar Sangakkara caught at gully, Sri Lanka were four down with a lead of just 16•AFP

Once again it was Taylor who did the damage•AFP

Vaas gave him good support at the other end•AFP