Captain Kraigg Brathwaite led from the front on Monday scoring an unbeaten 99 to help the West Indies reach 287 for 7 at close on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

An unbroken 65-run partnership with Rahkeem Cornwall handed the impetus to the hosts. Brathwaite batted cautiously while more adventurous teammates fell around him after Sri Lanka won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

Sri Lanka opening bowler Suranga Lakmal made early inroads, taking the wickets of John Campbell (5) and Nkrumah Bonner (0) in the morning session and piling on the pressure with six successive maidens.

Brief scores: WI 287/7 (Kraigg Brathwaite 99 batting, Jason Holder 30, Rakheem Cornwall 43 batting).