CRICKET:SRI LANKA'S hopes of making further inroads into the West Indies' batting line-up were frustrated by rain in Kandy with only 41 overs possible on the second day of the third Test.

Having enjoyed the better of the opening session, the tourists lost two quick wickets after lunch before the rain set in with the score on 244 for five.

The Windies lost Darren Bravo early after he added just five to his overnight score of 63 before being trapped lbw by Dilhara Fernando.

Bravo had asked for the decision to be reviewed, but was unsuccessful.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul had more luck as he escaped a walk back to the pavilion after initially being given out lbw on an ambitious reverse sweep, but reviews showed the ball struck his glove first.

Chanderpaul and Brendan Nash moved the score on with ease during the rest of the morning session as the Sri Lanka attack toiled.

The tourists reached 229 for three at lunch but the hosts hit back after the interval.

Chanderpaul was first to go for 54 after attempting a late dab off the bowling of Ajantha Mendis but only succeeded in directing the ball to Mahela Jayawardene, who made a spectacular catch at slip.

Nash, who had played the dominant role in a 99-run partnership with Chanderpaul, stood firm but new batsman Dwayne Bravo did not last long, falling in the next over to Rangana Herath.

The momentum was with Sri Lanka but the luck was not as the rain started to fall. Nash remained on 62 not out and much will rest on him tomorrow.

* NEIL McCALLUM’S unbeaten century saved Scotland from embarrassment on the opening day of the Intercontinental Cup final with Afghanistan in Dubai.

McCallum struck 104 not out off 221 balls and hit 17 fours, but only two other batsmen made double figures in Scotland’s 212 all out, with Richie Berrington and wicketkeeper Simon Smith hitting 29 and 36, respectively.

Afghanistan closed on 18 for one.