We bowled exceptionally well - now we need to bat deep West Indies coach Bennett King More close of play quotes

The first Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies was intriguingly poised after 17 wickets fell during the second day's play in Colombo.

Having dismissed West Indies for 285 during the morning, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 227 as Jermaine Lawson returned figures of 4-59.

But the tourists found batting no easier in their second innings and were 17-3 at the close, a 75-run lead.

Chaminda Vaas took 2-4 in a five-over burst with the new ball.

And he will be looking to tilt the balance firmly in favour of his side when the match resumes.

West Indies managed to add only 14 runs to their first day score of 271-6 at the start of play as Vaas (3-35) and Lasith Malinga (4-71) mopped up the tail.

Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul was lbw to Vaas in the third over of play without adding to his 69 and his dismissal ended a seventh wicket partnership of 81 with Banks.

Malinga had Powell caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene for three and followed up by bowling Banks for 32 with the first ball of his next over.

He was denied the chance of a five-wicket haul when Vaas yorked Tino Best for four, leaving Lawson unbeaten on the same score.

But Sri Lanka's upbeat mood was soon soured when Daren Powell, making the most of overcast conditions, bowled captain Marvan Atapattu off the inside edge for one and Lawson removed Sanath Jayasuriya for three to leave them on 7-2.

Jayawardene also failed, caught by Runako Morton at second slip off Powell for three.

Malinga is congratulated by home skipper Atapattu

Chanderpaul gave off-spinner Banks three overs before the interval and although he proved expensive, conceding 22, he picked up the vital wicket of Sangakkara, who was caught behind for 34 by keeper Denesh Ramdin.

Sri Lanka's slump continued after the re-start as Tillakaratne Dilshan (32) and Thilan Samaraweera (11) departed in successive overs.

And fast bowler Best earned his first success when he dismissed debutant Gayan Wijekoon for 12, with the help of a Sylvester Joseph catch.

Sri Lanka were 171-8 at tea but a stand of 66 between Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan carried their total beyond 200.

They were parted when Lawson bowled Muralitharan for 36, an innings featuring a six and four fours, and medium pacer Dwayne Smith denied Vaas a half century by finding a way through his defence with his score on 49.

It was just a question of seeing out the day when the West Indies openers walked to the middle, but Xavier Marshall only lasted until the fifth over when he was lbw to Vaas.

Two balls later Runako Morton fell in similar fashion and Sri Lanka claimed another success with the day's final delivery as Sylvester Joseph was caught off Muralitharan for two.

Sri Lanka: M S Atapattu (Capt), S T Jayasuriya, D P M D Jayawardene, K C Sangakkara (Wkt), T T Samaraweera, T M Dilshan, M G R Wijekoon, W P U J C Vaas, H M R K B Herath, M Muralitharan, S L Malinga.

West Indies: S Chanderpaul (Capt), D Ramdin (Wkt), D B Powell, O A C Banks, R S Morton, X M Marshall, S C Joseph, N Deonarine, D R Smith, T L Best, J J C Lawson.