GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters)
West Indies will take strength from their first-innings performance as they attempt to save the first Test against Sri Lanka, says coach Roger Harper.

They will start the final day 133 runs in arrears, with one wicket down and only nine runs on the board in their second innings after Sri Lanka declared on 590 for 9. West Indies were all out for 448 in their first innings.

"The circumstances of the game at the end of the fourth day are not ideal, but we have to be positive, since we have nine wickets in hand," Harper told Reuters on Friday.

"Remember that we managed to put together a total of 448 in the first innings, and since the wicket is still playing well, we can go out there and play proper and positive cricket.

"The pitch is spinning, but the bounce is even, and I think that if we apply ourselves and bat as we did in the first innings, we should be able to cope with it."

Brian Lara made 178 in the first innings and is confident of a repeat. He said: "By the end of this game, my personal run aggregate will be either 328 or 428, you will see. I am ready for them again and that is no joke.

"Believe me, I am ready for them and tomorrow you will see; at least 150 in the second innings, if I get to bat!"

Harper said he was confident his team could deal with Sri Lanka spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.

"Muralitharan is a class act, but we have got some class players as well," he said. "We showed in the first innings that if we play with common sense, we are capable of getting runs here and averting any real problems, regardless of who is bowling.

"There is a full day's cricket ahead of us. I think that it will be an intense battle, but we are very confident coming into the fifth day, and we think that we can deal with the situation."

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