Veerasammy Permaul took a career-best 5-35 as the West Indies took honours on a rain-shortened second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Tuesday (November 30).

Sri Lanka collapsed from their overnight 113-1 to 204 all out.

At stumps, after rain interrupted play after tea, the West Indies were 69-1, trailing by 135 runs. Jermaine Blackwood was the batsman dismissed for 44. Kraigg Brathwaite (22) and Nkrumah Bonner (1) will resume batting on Wednesday, weather permitting.

The West Indies owed their position of relative strength to Permaul and Jomel Warrican who took 4-50, who together combined to wrest the advantage away from the Sri Lankan team that was hoping to build a formidable first-innings total.

The home side had progressed to 139 when Warrican had Oshada Fernando, on two overnight, caught behind for 18. Permaul took his first wicket six overs and 13 runs later when he trapped Pathum Nissanka lbw for 73. The opening batsman had added 12 runs to his overnight score of 61.

The loss of his wicket triggered a slide that saw Sri Lanka lose their last seven wickets for 52 runs. The home side was further hampered by an injury to Angelo Matthews, who suffered a thigh strain while running a single and was forced to retire hurt.

He would later return to hit a couple of sixes that pushed Sri Lanka beyond 200 before he was last out for 29.

Meanwhile, other than Suranga Lakmal, who made 12, no other Sri Lankan batsman managed double figures as the West Indies spinners scythed through the line-up.