Advertisement

'Absolute joy': Fans go wild over cricket cult hero's 'priceless' record

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Rahkeem Cornwall (pictured) raising his bat and smiling after his maiden Test 50.
Rahkeem Cornwall (pictured) notched his maiden Test 50 against Sri Lanka and went on to remain not out on Day 2. (Getty Images)

West Indian cricket cult hero Rahkeem Cornwall has notched up his maiden 50 during a pivotal point in the match against Sri Lanka.

Cornwall, known for his off-spin, entered the frame when the West Indies were 7-117 and holding a delicate two run lead.

OUCH: New Zealand brewer's savage swipe at Steve Smith with new beer

BRUTAL: Former Aussie cricket assaulted at junior footy

But after signalling his intention to show his heart with the bat before Day 2, Cornwall put his head down and scored a quick-fire 60 off just 79 balls.

Cornwall broke some national records along the way.

The off-spinner became highest scoring No.9 batsman at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

He also became highest scoring West Indian No.9 against Sri Lanka in Test match cricket.

Cornwall showed off his big smile, to cap off his maiden 50, which had fans cheering him on.

West Indies take charge

Cornwall's 60 not out to finish the day helped the West Indies extend their lead to 99 runs.

West Indies were 8-268 at stumps - a first-innings lead of 99 which could already be decisive on an abrasive surface that will get harder to score on.

Cornwall, who was born in Antigua, made his maiden Test half-century and was 60 not out having put on an excellent stand of 90 for the eighth wicket with the more circumspect Joshua Da Silva, before the latter was out just before the close for 46 from 124 balls.

The hosts will hope to drive home their advantage after winning the toss and sending Sri Lanka into bat.

They dismissed the visitors for 169 inside 70 overs on the opening day as seamer Jason Holder took 5-27 in his first Test appearance since being replaced as West Indies captain.

Rahkeem Cornwall (pictured right) and Kemar Roach (pictured left) of West Indies walk off the field at the end of day 2 of the 1st Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Rahkeem Cornwall (pictured right) and Kemar Roach (pictured left) of West Indies walk off the field at the end of day 2 of the 1st Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Starting day two at 0-13, the West Indies lost regular wickets with Lakmal (5-45) the chief destroyer with his fourth five-wicket bag in Tests.

He had skipper Kraigg Brathwaite caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at second slip for three with a ball that moved away from the right-hander, and repeated the feat to dismiss left-handed Kyle Mayers in the same fashion after the latter had compiled a stylish 45.

Lakmal's ability to get the ball to move both ways was again perfectly illustrated as Jermaine Blackwood was bowled by an in-swinger for two, before Holder got an inside edge and had his stumps rattled on 19.

When Alzarri Joseph was caught by Dinesh Chandimal at point trying to drive the tall seamer, Lakmal completed his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests and had the home side reeling at 7-171.

But the burly Cornwall and Da Silva turned the tide of the Test again.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.