KINGSTOWN, June 24: An impressive fourth-wicket stand between Aravinda de Silva and captain Arjuna Ranatunga in the morning period had carried Sri Lanka closer to a memorable win over West Indies on the fifth and final day of the second Test here today.

De Silva was unbeaten on 76 alongside Ranatunga on 34 not out as Sri Lanka, seeking the magic number of 269, reached 179 for three at lunch. The most experienced pair of Sri Lankan batsmen have so far added 71.

The only casualty for Sri Lanka was opening batsman Roshan Mahanama. A sharp off-cutter from fast bowler Ian Bishop brushed his right glove on its way through to wicketkeeper Courtney Browne. He made 29 and shared 63 for the second wicket with De Silva.

Earlier, Brian Lara scored his 10th Test century, stroked 115 in West Indies' second innings total of 343 on the fourth day.

After the Sri Lankan reply began, opener Sanath Jayasuriya (17) and Marvan Atapattu (10) were the two batsmen to fall, both bowled by West Indies' captain Courtney Walsh.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES (1st innings): 147

SRI LANKA (1st innings): 222

WEST INDIES (2nd innings): (overnight 128-2) S Campbell b Pushpakumara 33, S Williams c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 46, B Lara c Jayasuriya b Dharmasena 115, F Reifer c Kaluwitharana b Pushpakumara 18, C Hooper c Kaluwitharana b Dharmasena 34, R Holder hit wicket b Muralitharan 34, I Bishop lbw Muralitharan 0, C Browne lbw Muralitharan 0, C Ambrose c Kaluwitharana b S de Silva 31, F Rose not out 0, C Walsh b Muralitharan 0, Extras: (b-4 lb-21 nb-7) 32; Total: 343

Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-92, 3-143, 4-240, 5-272, 6-272, 7-286, 8-339, 9-343Bowling: S de Silva 17-1-62-1 (nb1), Pushpakumara 19-2-81-2, Muralitharan 41-13-113-5 (nb5), Dharmasena 25-4-62-2 (nb1)

SRI LANKA (2nd innings): S Jayasuriya b Walsh 17, R Mahanama not out 26, M Atapattu b Walsh 10, A de Silva not out 34, Extras: (nb-10) 10; Total: (for two wickets) 97

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-55

Bowling: Ambrose 6-0-21-0 (nb5), Walsh 7-0-27-2 (nb3), Rose 3-0-13-0 (nb2), Bishop 3-0-32-0, Hooper 1-0-4-0

Scoreboard at close on 4th day

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.