Bravo and Gayle steady West Indies after early setback

Half-centuries from Darren Bravo and Devon Smith helped the West Indies recover from the early loss of Chris Gayle to close a rain-affected day one of the third Test against Sri Lanka on 134 for two.

Gayle was out first ball after play was delayed by nearly two hours in Kandy yesterday morning, with only 15 overs possible before lunch.

Bravo (63 not out) and Smith (55) steadied the ship, seeing out the 8.3 overs that were possible in the afternoon, before Smith finally fell in the evening with the partnership on 115.

Gayle, who made 333 in the first Test, was trapped lbw by debutant Suranga Lakmal, bowling his first ball in Test cricket.

The former captain was struck on the knee roll as he defended.

Bravo and Smith then dug in, the former playing the role of aggressor as he took two boundaries off one Angelo Mathews over.

The Windies were 45 for one at lunch, and Bravo took control thereafter, laying into Mathews again until bad light stopped play.

Rain set in soon after and an early tea was taken with the tourists on 69 for one. Bravo reached the third fifty of his short Test career with back-to-back boundaries off Dilhara Fernando after play resumed.

Smith was dropped by Thilan Samaraweera before making his half-century and then falling lbw to Ajantha Mendis.

Bravo, who survived a referral and was then dropped, was joined by Shivnarine Chanderpaul to see out the rest of the day.