Ramnaresh Sarwan marked his return after six months out with injury by scoring 80 as West Indies struggled to 186 for six at tea on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Georgetown on Monday.

West Indies reached the interval still 290 runs in arrears after Sri Lanka had compiled 476 for eight declared.

Hinds (32) and Ramdin (17) were at the crease at tea. Pace bowler Thilan Thushara had both Devon Smith (14) and Marlon Samuels (five) caught behind early on the third morning to put the hosts under pressure.

Muttiah Muralitharan picked up an important wicket when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught at short cover off a leading edge for 23.

Muralitharan deceived Dwayne Bravo (8) with a quicker delivery and won an lbw decision after lunch. Sarwan and Hinds added 53 runs for the sixth wicket. But Chaminda Vaas found Sarwan's edge and Prasanna Jayawardene held on to a good catch at the second attempt.

SCORE BOARD

SRI LANKA (I Innings, O/n: 269/4):
Vandort lbw Taylor 52
Warnapura c Ramdin b Bravo 120
Sangakkara c Smith b Taylor 50
Jayawardene lbw Gayle 136
Samaraweera c sub b Taylor 0
Dilshan lbw Taylor 20
Jayawardene b Powell 21
Vaas (not out) 54
Thushara c sub b Gayle 0
Herath (not out) 13
Extras (LB-7, W-1, NB-2) 10
Total (for 8 wkts decl.) 476
Fall of wickets: 1-130, 2-205, 3-243, 4-243, 5-277, 6-331, 7-457, 8-459.
Bowling: Powell 29-3-89-1, Taylor 33-8-110-4, Gayle 27-4-66-2, Bravo 30-3-74-1, Benn 40-6-120-0, Hinds 3-0-10-0.

WEST INDIES (I Innings):
Gayle lbw Vaas 0
Smith c P J’dene b Thushara 14
Sarwan c P J’dene b Vaas 80
Samuels c P J’dene b Thushara 5
C’paul c Warnapura b M’tharan   23
Bravo lbw Muralitharan 8
Hinds (batting) 32
Ramdin (batting) 17
Extras (LB-3, NB-4) 7           
Total (for 6 wkts, 75 overs) 186
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-46, 3-58, 4-99, 5-109, 6-162.
Bowling: Vaas 17-5-31-2, Thushara 16-3-43-2, Dilshan 1-0-2-0,      Muralitharan 25-2-76-2,        Herath 16-4-31-0.