Samaraweera celebrates after making 100 from 199 balls

Thilan Samaraweera hit his sixth Test hundred to lead a Sri Lanka recovery in the second Test against West Indies.

Samaraweera hit the crease with Sri Lanka in deep trouble on 32-3, and they soon crashed to 99-6, with West Indies contemplating a win inside three days.

But Chaminda Vaas joined Samaraweera and they spent just over three hours making a seventh-wicket stand of 138.

However, West Indies still have two days to chase a target of 253 to win after Sri Lanka were all out for 268.

Jerome Taylor had a terrific day for the hosts.

His testing fast bowling earned him well-deserved figures of 4-52 while he also ran out Michael Vandort for one in superb style.

Taylor pounced on a ball pushed to mid-on by Kumar Sangakkara and left the non-striker stranded with a direct hit.

Samaraweera said: "The pitch is still allowing the bowlers to seam the ball around, and the bounce is up and down," he said.

I have a key role to play in the side. I have to play among a host of stroke-players, and I can play the long, patient innings Thilan Samaraweera

"If we can get two or three wickets with the new ball, we can put some pressure on them, since we have a world-class spin bowler.

"Chris Gayle was getting the ball to turn a little bit, but the new ball will be the key."

The West Indies fast bowlers exploited the lively pitch and partly cloudy conditions early in the day but the complexion of the match changed again when Samaraweera was joined by Vaas.

"My approach when I went into bat was to play as straight as possible," Samaraweera said.

"I played a bad shot in the first innings - a 'nothing shot' - and found playing straight and playing off the front foot was the key.

"My strategy was to bat through the innings, but I think Chaminda helped a lot with this knock, since he was batting so well at the other end. Wnterprising teammates.

"I have a key role to play in the side. I have to play among a host of stroke-players, and I can play the long, patient innings which I did a few years ago when we were in a similar situation and I scored a hundred against Pakistan."

Sri Lanka lead the two-Test series 1-0, after they won the opening Test at the Guyana National Stadium by 121 runs.