West Indies 356 for 5 (Jangoo 123*, Chase 74*, A Fernando 2-44) lead Sri Lanka 308 (de Silva 120, Chandimal 54, Greaves 3-39) by 48 runs
Amir Jangoo worked his way to a maiden Test hundred in only his second Test, while Roston Chase also stood firm in a wicketless first session. Together the pair saw off the new ball, then marched West Indies into a handy lead that could grow hefty before the day is out. They made 85 runs together in this session, with Sri Lanka barely able to create a half-chance, let alone make a breakthrough. Their partnership is now worth 188, and may be turning the game decisively in West Indies' favour.
Jangoo went to the break on 123 not out off 257 deliveries. Chase was 74 off 172, having crossed fifty in the session. West Indies lead was now 48, with five first-innings wickets left.
Sri Lanka's bowling was probing in the first hour, having begun day three with a ball that was only four overs old. But they were without their quickest bowler Lahiru Kumara, who had delivered just one over on day one before picking up a hamstring niggle. The remaining seamers - Asitha Fernando, Milan Rathnayaka, and Kasun Rajitha found a little swing and seam movement early on, but could not find their way through the well-organised West Indies defences. Left-arm spining allrounder Sonal Dinusha was used in the second hour, partly as a relief bowler to the seamers.
Both batters left plenty of deliveries early in the day, Jangoo in particular exercising excellent judgement outside off stump. Chase attacked more deliveries, but the difference was marginal. Occasionally a thick edge past the slips helped keep scores ticking, but as both batters used soft hands while defending, edges tended to go fly low anyway. Although there was swing, plays-and-misses were rare - Jangoo and Chase were judicious.
The batting was slightly more expansive in the second hour, and it was soon after drinks that Jangoo got to his maiden hundred off the 226th ball he faced, flicking Rajitha through square leg for four. He later even played lofted drives - down the ground, and over cover - as the ball grew softer and conditions eased. Chase hit six boundaries in the session, mostly from drives.
