PROVIDENCE (Guyana), March 26: West Indies were 170 for two at lunch on the final day of the first Test chasing 437 for victory after some fine batting by Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan on Wednesday.

Sarwan continued his form from the first innings, during which he top-scored with 80, by adding an unbeaten 51 from 138 balls.

Marlon Samuels reached the break on nine after joining Sarwan to try to keep West Indies’ hopes alive.

The only casualty of the first session was Dwayne Bravo, West Indies’ stand-in opener for out-of-form Chris Gayle, who was caught and bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan.

Bravo scored 83 from 169 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and a six, after resuming on 46 not out at the start of play.

The second wicket pair defied Sri Lanka’s spinners on the slow-paced pitch as they added 134 runs.

West Indies had closed the fourth day at 96 for one on Tuesday after the visitors had declared their second innings at 240 for seven mid way through the evening session.

Chaminda Vaas struck an early blow as Devon Smith (10) top-edged an attempted pull stroke and was brilliantly caught at long leg by a diving Thilan Mirando.

Earlier, opener Malinda Warnapura, who scored a maiden Test century in the first innings, then top scored in the second innings with 62 from 91 deliveries with five boundaries.

Thilan Samaraweera also scored an unbeaten 56, while skipper Mahela Jayawardene made a brisk 33 from 38 runs as Sri Lanka searched for quick runs.

Kumar Sangakkara (21), trying to push along the scoring rate, departed shortly after lunch.

The breakthrough ended a 51-run stand for the second wicket.

Warnapura perished as he chased a wide delivery from Bravo. Benn finished with three for 59 from 13 overs, the most successful of the West Indian bowlers.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 476-8 declared (D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 136, B.S.M. Warnapura 120, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas 54 not out, M.G. Vandort 52, K.C. Sangakkara 50; J.E. Taylor 4-110).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 280 (R.R. Sarwan 80).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings):

M.G. Vandort c Ramdin b Gayle 24

B.S.M. Warnapura c Ramdin b Bravo 62

K.C. Sangakkara c sub b Bravo 21

M. Jayawardene c Chanderpaul b Benn 33

T.T. Samaraweera not out 56

T.M. Dilshan lbw b Taylor 4

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas c Ramdin b Benn 13

M.T.T. Mirando c Taylor b Benn 14

H.A.P.W. Jayawardene not out 5

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-1, NB-5) 8

TOTAL (for seven decl, 57 overs) 240

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-94, 3-133, 4-159,

5-171, 6-192, 7-224.

BOWLING: Powell 9-0-33-0; Taylor 8-0-37-1; Bravo 14-0-54-2; Benn 13-0-59-3; Gayle

13-1-54-1.

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings, overnight

96-1):

D.S. Smith c Mirando b Vaas 10

D.J. Bravo c and b Muralitharan 83

R.R. Sarwan not out 51

M.N. Samuels not out 9

EXTRAS (B-13, LB-2, NB-2) 17

TOTAL (for two wkts, 56 overs) 170

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-156.

BOWLING (to-date): Vaas 10-3-35-1; Mirando 4-1-31-0 (1nb); Herath 20-6-37-0 (1nb); Muralitharan 22-2-52-1.—Agencies