Amir Jangoo amassed 233, RostonChase hit 194, and through a record-breaking 401-run partnership, the pair slow-roasted Sri Lanka on day three in Antigua. Their gargantuan stand delivered West Indies to a position of extraordinary strength, securing them a 318-run first innings lead. That in the four overs they got to bowl at Sri Lanka, West Indies dismissed the dangerous Pathum Nissanka, and created other chances, buoying them further heading into day four.

Jangoo and Chase now not only have the highest sixth wicket stand in the history of Test cricket, they also have the second highest partnership for West Indies, behind only Garfield Sobers and Conrad Hunte. Both batters improved on their previous first-class high scores, Chase easily beating his 137 not out, and Jangoo surpassing his domestic 218.

That Jangoo produced a knock of such astonishing concentration, and expansive range, in just his third Test innings was especially impressive. Until he got out attempting to accelerate about midway through the last session, his innings was largely chanceless. He batted 373 deliveries on his own, and he and Chase batted 100.2 overs, seeing out three complete sessions together. Though they had begun slowly, both batters sped up through the day and were finding boundaries off both the quicks and spinners through the second and third sessions of the day.

Sri Lanka’s attack found the pitch utterly docile for most of day three. They were missing their fastest quick Lahiru Kumara, who went off the field with a hamstring niggle early the previous day. Their quicks were earnest in the first hour, but once Jangoo and Chase saw out the second new ball (the ball was four overs old when day three began) with a period of disciplined batting, Sri Lanka’s quicks lost some venom, and captain Dhananjaya de Silva went increasingly to his spinners – Sonal Dinusha in particular.

The one exception for Sri Lanka was Milan Rathnayaka, who was intense in each of his day three spells, and created chances even in a dreary second session, having Chase dropped by a diving wide slip for 108. Later in the day, it would be Rathnayaka who would break the enormous stand, and would go on to complete a well-deserved five-wicket haul, finishing with 5 for 124. Dinusha, the left-arm spinning allrounder, conceded 234 runs himself in this innings, though he did also pick up two wickets, including that of Chase.

Patience had defined Jangoo and Chase’s batting in the first hour. Jangoo, for example, didn’t score off the first 15 deliveries he faced on day three, while Chase was only marginally less defensive. When conditions began to ease after the first hour, however, they began to slip into more fluent modes of operation. In the afternoon session, when the pair really propelled West Indies into the ascendancy, they plundered 136 runs at a rate of more than five an over. Jangoo was especially strong square of the wicket on the offside and down the ground. Chase was excellent through the covers. Jangoo, additionally, would sometimes tonk the spinners over the straight boundary.

Right through the day the pair would notch up milestones – both for themselves, and the partnership. The milestone that drew the most raucous celebration came soon after tea, when Jangoo completed his double with a sweep through square leg, leaping in the air as he took off for the run. Although only hundreds were in attendance, the house was on its feet for him, coach Daren Sammy and the West Indies dressing room giving him an especially warm ovation. Having come into the XI only as a replacement player for the injured Shai Hope, Jangoo has essentially made himself undroppable for the second Test.

After tea the pair took the scoring up even one further gear, Jangoo hitting some memorable sixes over square leg, while Chase continued to drive powerfully. Jangoo was out attempting to repeat a pulled six though the ball was not quite short enough for that shot. The resultant top-edge was gobbled up by the wicketkeeper. Chase was out much later, under-edging Dinusha into his stumps when a sweep went awry. He was six short of what would also have been his first double century.

Rathnayake would take two further wickets before West Indies declared the innings. Nissanka was out caught behind feeling for a Jayden Seales away-swinger first ball of the second over. Nightwatcher Kasun Rajitha could have been out too, had Jangoo at short leg held a sharp, low chance off the bowling of Kemar Roach.

Scores:
Scores: Day 3 Stumps
Sri Lanka 308 and 15 for 1 (Kasun Rajitha 4*, Nishan Madushka 2*; Jayden  Seales 1-5) trail  West Indies 626 for 9 dec (Amir Jangoo 233, Roston Chase 194; Milan  Rathnayaka 5-124) by 303 runs

[Cricinfo]

For a second day in a row, the United States has launched strikes against Iran, once again citing an attack against a commercial vessel as a motivation.

Saturday’s renewed attacks are the latest indication that a regional Middle East ceasefire, established as part of a June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU), might be at a breaking poInt.

In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which directs military action in the Middle East, explained that the latest attacks came “at the Commander in Chief’s direction”.

“CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping,” it wrote.

“U.S. military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”

[Aljazeera]

India suffered a potential injury scare ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka, with their No.3 B Sai Sudarshan retiring hurt on 7 while playing for India A against Sri Lanka A during the third day of the first four-dayer in Galle.  After scoring a century in the first innings, Sai Sudharsan retired hurt in the fourth over of India A’s second innings. By the end of the day’s play, however, India A had stretched their lead to 170.

Chhattisgarh opener Aayush Pandey and Devdutt Padikkal were unbeaten on 20 each at stumps.

India A had claimed a first-innings lead of 122 after dismissing Sri Lanka A for 330 in their first innings. Resuming from an overnight 113 for 2, they were guided by half-centuries from captain Sahan Arachchige (72) and Ashen Bandara (70). Nuwandi Fernando, who had passed his own fifty on day two, had his innings cut short on 84 on day three.

For India A, Auqib Nabi, who was the top wicket taker in the previous Ranji Trophy season and was a net bowler during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, was the pick of the bowlers, returning 4 for 58 in 19.4 overs. Sri Lanka A lost their last five wickets for 30 runs, with Nabi taking four of those.

Left-arm fingerspin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey and Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur picked up two wickets apiece. India A then closed out the day on 48 for 0.

Scores:
India A 48 for 0 in 17 overs  (Devdutt Padikkal 20*, Ayush Pandey 20*) and 452 for 6 dec in 111.4 overs  [Sai Sudarshan 132, Dhruv Jurel 141, Shaik Rasheed 63; Chamika Gunasekera 3-64, Dilum Sudeera 2-143] lead  Sri Lanka A 330 in 101.4 overs  (Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Ashen Bandara 70, Sahan Arachchige 72; Aaqib Nabi 4-58, YashThakur 2-51, Harsh Dubey  2-84) by 170 runs

[Cricinfo]