Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That winds up our coverage for the match. It's been a pleasure bringing you the match and on behalf of my colleagues, Andrew Fernando in Galle, Abhishek Purohit who brought you the first three days of the match, and Gopi Rangarajan on scoring, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. Cheers and be good.

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Presentations time, Tony Cozier does the honours.

Sammy: "We came into the match well prepared, despite being short of practice. The oppotunities we got, we made the best of it all and it showed in the way we performed. Good to see that we dictated the game through out. Plans were clear, execution was good to see. I must commend Chris (Gayle) for the way he set it up. The way Shane Shillingford came and bowled.. I know the guy, he loves to bowl and never drops the ball. That's the kind of passion I wanted. There is always room for improvement. Players have been supportive, hopefully we can achieve big things. This match has shown we can compete and we can put ourselves in winning positions. This is over, we now start a whole new Test and we need to keep moving as a team."

Sanga: "Tough match, our attitude in the first couple of hours wasn't up to the mark and Chris Gayle took advantage. (About the tail end contributions) One of the great joys of playing for SL is the way everyone chips in. We got to admit, we were pretty much outplayed. There could have had a result if not for the rain (yesterday and today). Credit to the West Indies. Not heard much about the new ground at RPS. We will leave that to the groundsmen, and look forward to see what's there."

Umpire Kettleborough gets an award for a fine Test debut. Applause all around and well deserved.

Surprise surprise. Man of the match is Chris Gayle. HUGE smile on his face. "It's good to be in the same class as the great players (who hit 2 300s). I hope I can continue the form in the second Test and take it from there. I have to commend young Barath for the part he played. Young Darren Bravo too, Nash chipped in with a half century, it was fantastic. Barath is a promisingplayer, hope for more from him. Conditions will be different in the second Test, we will be prepared for it. My injury is pretty much ok. I batted for long, got cramps and some injury, but I'll be back strong."

4.16pm Right, thats it. Play has been officially called off. The covers remain in place, there is still some rain in the air and the umpires shake hands with the captains under glum skies. West Indies have punched above their weight, but having done that, threw away the chance to knock out Sri Lanka, who have done well to save the game.

4.13pm More from Andrew: "Covers remain in place and drizzle is intermittent. Chances of any more action are slim."

3.34pm Some hope from Andrew: "Rain has now stopped. But the covers remain in place as dark clouds move in from the southwest."

3.28pm Ten Cricket have shifted away from the Galle action and are showing the Stanbic domestic tournament in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately Brian Lara is not playing this particular game. That would've been fun.

3.13pm I'm afraid things don't look good. Andrew Fernando from Galle: "It's coming down hard now. Not sure how long it will last but the remainder of the ground's extensive covers are quickly coming on." Here's Andrew's match report of the day's proceedings so far. And this is today's story in pictures.

2.42pm The drizzle has won the battle. Play has been stopped by rain. The light is pretty poor too. They have decided to take tea early.

Ravdeep again: "Seeing the way Test matches are progressing in the subcontinent lately (Ind-NZ, Pak-SA & SL-WI), wondering if there is anything called "Accountability" for pitch curators."

Indeed. As someone recently pointed out, things would be really good in India if road builders and pitch curators were to swap jobs.

Vasanth: "If SL gets a lead of 100 runs and declare the innings, SL can win the match as WI are known to crumble under pressure." Yes, true.

I'll let you know the next developments at around 3.05pm local time which is when the team break ends. In the meantime, do follow our happening Twitter page at @ESPNcricinfo.

It's raining in Nagpur where the final India-NZ Test begins tomorrow. Harsha Bhogle reckons a drawn series is as good as a defeat for India.

81.2
1
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, 1 run, surprise bouncer, only 122 kph, but catches Thilan by surprise and he fends it without comfort to the leg side
81.2
1w
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, 1 wide, Bravo lands this outside the rather generous wide marker and umpire Davies spreads his arms
81.1
0
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, no run, short and widish outside off, easy leave for Thilan the unshakeable

A very light drizzle now.

END OF OVER:
81 | 4 Runs | SL: 239/4

  • Angelo Mathews5 (10b)
  • Thilan Samaraweera18 (39b)
  • Brendan Nash5-0-21-1
  • Dwayne Bravo12-1-38-0
80.6
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, opens the face and guides a short ball towards point.
80.5
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, homes in on leg stump this time and Mathews covers the possible turn and defends
80.4
0
Nash to Mathews, no run,
80.3
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, another one landed just wide of off stump and it is played out to cover
80.2
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, lands it outside off and he pushes it to the off side
80.1
4
Nash to Mathews, FOUR, Nash tries to lull Mathews now with his gifts. Expect a good ball later in the over. This was a gently full toss that he duly whacked through midwicket for four

END OF OVER:
80 | 2 Runs | SL: 235/4

  • Thilan Samaraweera18 (39b)
  • Angelo Mathews1 (4b)
  • Dwayne Bravo12-1-38-0
  • Brendan Nash4-0-17-1
79.6
0
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, no run, another length ball outside off, another laboured leave.
79.5
0
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, no run, wider outside off and Thilan gets a good look at it and leaves
79.4
1
DJ Bravo to Mathews, 1 run, over-pitched on middle and off, Angelo punches towards mid on for a single to get off the mark
79.3
0
DJ Bravo to Mathews, no run, short ball just outside off, trundler at 114 kph, Angelo leaves
79.2
1
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, 1 run, angles into Thilan from back of a length and he tucks it away square for one
79.1
0
DJ Bravo to Samaraweera, no run, swinging full delivery outside off, the square drive is mistimed to point

Dwayne Bravo comes on now. The clouds seem to have drifted away for the mooment.

END OF OVER:
79 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | SL: 233/4

  • Angelo Mathews0 (2b)
  • Thilan Samaraweera17 (35b)
  • Brendan Nash4-0-17-1
  • Shane Shillingford30-4-79-1
78.6
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, makes him play this time, with one flighted on off stump, and Angelo defends down the track
78.5
0
Nash to Mathews, no run, tossed up outside off and breaking away, Angelo leaves

Mahela's done his job though. Angelo walks out to replace him.

Ravdeep: "The probability of West Indies victory now in this match is same as that of my message/comment being published."

Now for an upset that defeats all possible logic and weather!

78.4
W
Nash to DPMD Jayawardene, OUT, Nash has his 2nd Test wicket. He's been serving up a lot of bad balls here, probably took Mahela by surprise with a good one. It was tossed up on middle and leg stump, slower through the air and invited Mahela into an early drive. He popped it right back and Nash took a smart catch low down to his left

DPMD Jayawardene c & b Nash 58 (212m 134b 7x4 1x6) SR: 43.28

Sri Lanka 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st102TM DilshanNT Paranavitana
2nd8KC SangakkaraNT Paranavitana
3rd87DPMD JayawardeneNT Paranavitana
4th36DPMD JayawardeneTT Samaraweera
5th8TT SamaraweeraAD Mathews