West Indies trail by 421 runs at the end of the first session on Day 3 of the second Test against Sri Lanka. The home side’s chase got off to a shaky start as opener John Campbell threw away a promising start, holing out to deep midwicket off Asitha Fernando.
Campbell had looked aggressive, pulling a short ball for four and slapping a bouncer over cover. But his impatience got the better of him. He backed away again, looking for another slap over the off side, but Asitha followed him with a bouncer. Despite being cramped, Campbell swiped hurriedly and deposited the ball in Dinesh Chandimal’s lap at deep midwicket.
It was a needless shot, especially with the team already in a precarious position. Sri Lanka had set the trap with fielders on the leg side, and Campbell fell right into it. His dismissal left West Indies in deeper trouble, still over 400 runs behind.
Kavem Hodge, the other opener, played cautiously, leaving balls outside off and defending solidly. He got off the mark with a controlled pull shot for two and later clipped a single to midwicket. But his scoring rate was slow, reflecting the team’s defensive mindset.
Amid the tension, Matthew‘s commentary recalled Geoff Allott’s famous 77-ball duck against South Africa in 1999, calling Hodge’s innings positively thrilling by comparison. The joke highlighted the grind of West Indies’ approach.
Asitha Fernando bowled with purpose, mixing short balls with full deliveries. He consistently tested the batters with bounce and reverse swing. The Sri Lankan bowlers maintained pressure, not giving away easy runs.
Sheldon observed that West Indies had little incentive to win the Test, given their distant position in the World Test Championship standings and a 1-0 series lead. Hodge, he noted, was batting to save his place in the side.
Jangoo, the hero of the last Test, joined Hodge after Campbell’s dismissal. He started cautiously, leaving deliveries and defending solidly. His only scoring shot was a whip through midwicket that fell safe, allowing a single.
As lunch approached, Campbell’s aggression returned briefly. He pulled a short ball to fine leg for a single and then slapped a bouncer over cover. But the risk-taking ultimately cost him.
The session ended with West Indies still in deep trouble. Sri Lanka’s bowlers had executed their plans perfectly, and the home side’s batting lacked the discipline needed to mount a serious challenge. The match, already tilting in Sri Lanka’s favor, seemed to be slipping further away.
