West Indies take 99-run lead over Sri Lanka

Fast bowler Rahkeem Cornwall made an unbeaten half century and combined in a 90-run eighth wicket partnership with Joshua Da Silva which guided the West Indies to a 99-run lead over Sri Lanka on the second day of the first cricket test, according to The Associated Press.

Cornwall was 60 not out at stumps, the first Antiguan to score a test half century at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Wickekeeper Da Silva made 46 and held together the West Indies lower middle order as they edged past Sri Lanka’s first innings of 169. The home side matched that total with six wickets down and Cornwall and Da Silva carried them to 268-8 at stumps.

Da Silva’s patient stand was the most important of the innings until it was surpassed by Cornwall.

He steadied the West Indies when they were 133-5 and the match was still in the balance, according to The Associated Press.

Cornwall had been determined to make a statement with the bat. He told a local reporter before the match to “tell the world I’ve come to make a score.”

The burly 1.96-meter paceman was as good as his word, reaching his first test 50 from 62 balls and breaking the mould on a day of slow scoring with nine fours and two sixes.