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07/06 16:59 CDT Greaves 180 bats West Indies back into 2nd test against Sri Lanka on day 4 Greaves 180 bats West Indies back into 2nd test against Sri Lanka on day 4 NORTH SOUND, Antingua (AP) --- Justin Greaves' dogged innings of 180 from 325 balls on the fourth day of the second test against Sri Lanka has played West Indies into a strong position on Monday to claim its first test series victory in four years. Greaves was the last man out as West Indies made 499 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 549-9, reducing the innings deficit to only 50 runs. Sri Lanka lost first innings century-maker Lahiru Udara to a four-ball duck and Nishan Fernando for 20 before reaching 92-2 at stumps, increasing its overall lead to 142 with a day remaining. Dinesh Chandimal was 40 and Kamindu Mendis was 30 not in a partnership worth 60 runs by close of play. Sri Lanka scored at more than four runs an over through the last 22 overs of the day and would have to continue at that rate to have any chance of playing itself into a winning position. It can do so only by declaring and bowling out West Indies on a pitch which might deteriorate late on the final day. West Indies won the first test of the two-test series by an innings and 217 runs and needs only a draw to claim its first series win in the World Test Championship since beating Bangladesh in the Caribbean in 2022. On a pitch on which only 21 wickets have fallen in four days and 1,140 runs have been scored, the odds are in favor of the home team. Greaves achieved his third test century and second highest score in a partnership of 242 runs for West Indies' fifth wicket with Shai Hope, who made 112. The stand was reminiscent of the 196 the pair put on against New Zealand in December when Hope made 140 and Greaves 202 not out to claim a draw. Hope and Greaves latest partnership guided West Indies from 144-4 to 386-5 and towards a position from which a draw could be secured. Greaves then did his best to marshal the tail, enabling West Indies to add 113 for the last five wickets. The Sri Lanka bowlers kept up pressure throughout the day, making good use of short-pitched bowling to limit the scoring. Asitha Fernando took 5-130 from 40 overs, his third five-wicket bag in tests, and Prabath Jayasuriya took 3-131. Hope who was out stumped in bizarre fashion close to lunch. He tried to pad away left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha's length ball down the leg side but missed and in the process came out of his crease. Wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis couldn't collect the ball cleanly but it ricocheted onto the stumps from his gloves. Hope hit 10 boundaries and dominated not only the pacers but also Jayasuriya by using his feet well against the spinner. The West Indies resumed on 318-4 and Hope should have been out without adding to his overnight score of 86 when he edged Milan Rathnayake's second ball down the leg side. However, Sri Lanka didn't review the on-field umpire's not out decision. Hope missed the first test due to a shoulder injury in training but returned and knocked off his third century in his last five tests off 199 balls. Greaves resumed on 85 and also raised his second test hundred in Antigua off 201 balls with a quick single. ___ AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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