A patient century from Thilan Samaraweera helped Sri Lanka recover to 268 all out at the close of play on the third day of the second Test on Saturday, setting West Indies a victory target of 253. The tourists were reeling at 99 for six but a seventh-wicket stand of 138 between Samaraweera (125) and Chaminda Vaas (45) hauled Sri Lanka back into the game and the pressure will now be on West Indies's batsmen on a track showing plenty of life. Earlier, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (5-79) picked up two of the last three wickets in the morning session to dismiss West Indies for 294, a first-innings lead of 16 for the home team. Sri Lanka then slumped to four for two, Malinda Warnapura caught by debutant Sewnarine Chattergoon at third slip for a duck as he poked at a rising delivery from the fiery Jerome Taylor. Taylor then ran out Michael Vandort for one in superb style, pouncing on a ball pushed to mid-on by Kumar Sangakkara and leaving the opener stranded with a direct hit. Sri Lanka's woes continued when skipper Mahela Jayawardene (12) chopped at a ball from Fidel Edwards and got an inside edge on to his stumps. Daren Powell then claimed Sangakkara (14). Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled by Taylor. Soon followed Chamara Silva for 13. Then Vaas and Samaraweera saved Sri Lanka. Samaraweera's 199-ball knock came to an end near the close when he was run out after more superb work from Samuels in the deep. Sri Lanka leads the series 1-0. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings) 278 West Indies (1st innings) Gayle c Vandort b Thushara 45 Chattergoon b Vaas 46 Sarwan c Warnapura b Murali 57 Samuels lbw b Muralitharan 03 Chanderpaul lbw b Thushara 18 Smith b Muralitharan 47 Bravo lbw b Amerasinghe 26 Ramdin c Jayawardene b Murali 13 Taylor lbw b Vaas 13 Powell lbw b Murali 03 Edwards not out 01 Extras (lb5, w2, nb15) 22 Total (76.2 overs) 294 Falls: 1-58 (Gayle), 2-137 (Chattergoon), 3-141 (Samuels), 4-177 (Sarwan), 5-199 (Chanderpaul), 6-246 (Bravo), 7-266 (D.S. Smith), 8-289 (Taylor), 9-291 (Ramdin). Bowling: Vaas 23-1-76-2 (nb8); Amerasinghe 12-1-62-1; Thushara 12-0-72-2 (nb5, w2); Muralitharan 29.2-4-79-5 (nb2) Sri Lanka (2nd innings) Vandort run out (Taylor) 01 Warnapura c Chattergoon b Taylor 00 Sangakkara c Samuels b Powell 14 Jayawardene b Edwards 12 Samaraweera run out (Samuels) 125 Dilshan b Taylor 25 Silva c Samuels b Taylor 13 Vaas c Ramdin b Gayle 45 Thushara c Ramdin b Bravo 10 Muralitharan c Powell b Taylor 04 Amerasinghe not out 00 Extras (b1, lb10, w6, nb2) 19 Total (overs 75.1) 268 Falls: 1-2 (Warnapura), 2-4 (Vandort), 3-32 (Jayawardene), 4-32 (Sangakkara), 5-73 (Dilshan), 6-99 (Silva), 7-237 (Vaas), 8-252 (Thushara), 9-268 (Samaraweera). Bowling: Powell 13-4-49-1 (w5); Taylor 15.1-1-52-4 (w1); Edwards 14-1-62-1 (nb2); Bravo 19-5-64-1; Gayle 14-0-30
