01 December,2010 03:40 PM IST | | Agencies
Darren Bravo closed in on his third half-century to steady the West Indies after Chris Gayle's first-ball dismissal in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Bravo, playing only his third Test, was unbeaten on a stylish 44 as the West Indies reached 69-1 in their first innings at tea on the first day. Opener Devon Smith was 22 not out.
The pair have so far put on 69 for the unfinished second-wicket stand on a day when only 23.3 overs possible due to rain in the first two sessions.
The first Test at the Pallekele International Stadium started on a sensational note when paceman Suranga Lakmal trapped former captain Gayle leg-before with his first delivery after the tourists had been put in to bat.
It was a big blow to the West Indies as Gayle began the three-Test series with an explosive 333 in the opening match. The series is tied 0-0 following rain-hit drawn matches in Colombo and Galle.
Bravo, who scored 58 and 80 in the first two Tests, continued to impress with his stroke-play as he fluently drove paceman Dilhara Fernando through the covers for a boundary and hit seamer Angelo Mathews for two fours in an over.
He has so far hit seven fours in his 74-ball knock.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara kept changing his bowlers, using five in the opening 15 overs, but failed to get another wicket in the morning session.
Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan, who took two wickets in an over in the last Test, was pressed into the attack after seven overs and bowled just two overs for two runs.
Sri Lanka made one change from the side that played in the second Test, bringing in Fernando in place of paceman Nuwan Kulasekara.
The West Indies replaced opener Adrian Barath and off-spinner Shane Shillingford with Smith and Nelon Pascal.
The West Indies have lost five and drawn three of their eight Tests in Sri Lanka.
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