Pallekelle, Dec 2: West Indies reached 244-5 Thursday in its first innings on day two of the second cricket test against Sri Lanka before rain brought an early end to the day.
Sri Lanka hit back with two quick wickets after West Indies had dominated the morning session but rain intervened to spoil the momentum.
Only nine overs of play was possible after lunch.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul posted his 55th test half-century in the first over after lunch when he swept left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for four.
But he was out for 54, caught by Mahela Jayawardene off spinner Ajantha Mendis, ending a 99-run fourth-wicket stand with Brendan Nash, who remained unbeaten on 62.
Dwayne Bravo was out without scoring, stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene.
Nash who faced 110 balls and hit five boundaries earlier went past 1,000 career runs in tests. Carlton Baugh was yet to score.
More than 50 overs were lost on the opening day due to rain and bad light.
Seam bowler Dilhara Fernando, who had bowled poorly on day one, broke through Thursday morning, trapping overnight batsman Darren Bravo lbw for 68 when the left-hander shuffled across the stumps. Umpire Bruce Oxenford ruled the batsman out, prompting an unsuccessful review by the batsman.
Chanderpaul had better luck with the umpire referral system. He was on 38 when he was adjudged lbw by Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, but had the decision overturned by the television umpire.
Mendis returned best bowling figures of 2-51. AP
