Sarwan, Chanderpaul keep Windies in hunt

Ramnaresh Sarwan8217;s unbeaten 95 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul8217;s unbeaten half century on Sunday kept the West Indies...

Ramnaresh Sarwan8217;s unbeaten 95 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul8217;s unbeaten half century on Sunday kept the West Indies on course for victory in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka. The hosts, needing 253 to win, were 194 for three when rain stopped play just before tea on the fourth day at the Queen8217;s Park Oval. They needed another 59 runs with seven wickets in hand.

The 27-year-old Sarwan and the left-handed Chanderpaul came together at the fall of Marlon Samuels8217;s wicket with West Indies at 73 but the two veterans remained unseparated at tea .

Chaminda Vaas led the Sri Lankan bowling with two for 37 while fellow left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara claimed one for 49. Leading off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan failed to take a wicket in his 19 overs, giving away 68 runs.

Sri Lanka broke through early as openers Chris Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon fell in successive overs. Thushara made the initial strike when captain Gayle 10 slashed a back foot drive and Tillekeratne Dilshan took a fine catch over his shoulder.

Chattergoon 11 went one run later at 24/2 8212; leg before wicket to an angled delivery from the 34-year-old Vaas. Sarwan, with three half centuries already in the series, was in commanding form but Sri Lanka missed a run-out opportunity against the West Indies vice-captain when he was on 14.

Marlon Samuels was late to send back his partner but Sarwan survived as Dilshan8217;s shy at the bowler8217;s end stumps missed with the Guyanese batsman stranded.

Sarwan and Samuels added 49 for the third wicket before Vaas returned for a second spell and rewarded his captain in his second over. Samuels 11 drove a slower ball to cover where Malinda Warnapura grabbed a good low catch diving forward.

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On Saturday, Samaraweera reached his ton when he sliced Fidel Edwards to the third man boundary for the 15th of his 18 boundaries that came from 199 balls in close to five hours.

When Samaraweera arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble on 32 for three, and soon crashed to 99 for six, with West Indies contemplating a victory inside three days.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 278 and 268 Samaraweera 125, Taylor 4/52 vs West Indies 294 and 93/3 Sarwan batting 95, Chanderpaul batting 50; Vaas 2/37.