Hinds never allowed the Sri Lankan bowlers to settle More photos from day two

West Indies had closed to within 200 runs of Sri Lanka's first innings total when bad light stopped play on day two in St Lucia.

Wavell Hinds was the star performer for the home side, ending the day unbeaten on 74 alongside Brian Lara, on 36.

Chaminda Vaas earlier trapped Daren Ganga lbw for 12 before Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed Chris Gayle for 27.

West Indies wasted an excellent effort in the first session by taking two-and-a-half hours to take the final two Sri Lankan wickets.

Corey Collymore took 5-66, but the tourists recovered from 288-8 to post a score in excess of 350 as Vaas showed plenty of patience to hit 38.

He made his runs in long, arguably dull partnerships with Muralitharan (14) and Prabath Nissanka (12 not out).

The day began with everything going right for the home side.

Marvan Atapattu missed the chance of converting his overnight century into a really big score, and his wicket opened the floodgates for Collymore.

Atapattu added just 10 to his overnight 108 not out before he edged Hinds straight to Lara at slip.

In the very next over Collymore trapped Romesh Kaluwitharana lbw for a duck.

Lara took an even better slip catch to get rid of Kaushal Lokuarachchi. And Collymore struck once more before lunch when Thilan Samaraweera was given out caught behind.

Both that dismissal, and Kaluwitharana's downfall, owed much to the generosity of spirit shown by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden.