Ramnaresh Sarwan on the go during his innings of 80 against Sri Lanka on the third day of the first Test in Guyana. - Contributed

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP)

Veterans Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan took three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka closed in on a large first-innings lead over West Indies after day three of the opening Test yesterday.

West Indies struggled to 269 for nine at the close, still 207 runs in arrears and needing eight runs to avoid the follow-on at Providence Stadium.

Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a pleasing topscore of 80, but none of the other batsmen capitalised on starts as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Vaas claimed Sarwan on his way to three for 45, while world record-holder Muralitharan claimed three for 104.

The experienced pair got great support from Thilan Thushara, who began the slide in the morning session and ended with two for 59.

Thushara struck in the day's fourth over after West Indies resumed on 29-1 in reply to Sri Lanka's 476-8 declared.

Devon Smith feathered a nick on 14 to provide Thushara, in his second Test, with his first wicket. It was the first of four catches to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Thushara was soon celebrating again when Marlon Samuels followed a wide delivery and a thicker edge was held by a diving Jayawardene at 58-3.

Sarwan and fellow Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul steadied the innings in an assured partnership of 41.

Sarwan, appearing in a Test for the first time in 10 months after various injuries, passed his half century off 99 balls during the stand.

But he lost the in-form Chanderpaul when Muralitharan struck for the first time just before lunch.

Chanderpaul compiled 23 off 53 balls in just over an hour before chipping a catch to short mid-off as he tried to nudge into the legside.

Muralitharan should have removed Dwayne Bravo before the interval but skipper Mahela Jayawardene floored a simple slip catch and West Indies lunched at 107-4.

The miss did not prove costly as Muralitharan claimed Bravo leg before for eight in the first over after the break as the home team wobbled at 109-5.

Sarwan and Ryan Hinds gave the innings some more backbone in adding 53 before Vaas returned to strike with the second new ball.

Sarwan edged a drive to the wicketkeeper after facing 199 balls and hitting six fours.

Hinds, who batted with a runner throughout due to a hamstring strain, followed soon after tea as he also edged to the wicketkeeper off Muralitharan. Hinds, playing his first test in three years, scored 37 off 104 balls with four fours.

West Indies' lower order rallied from 193-7 with Denesh Ramdin (38), Sulieman Benn (28) and Jerome Taylor (22 not out) providing hope of avoiding the follow-on.

Ramdin and Benn added 43 for the eighth wicket before a loose drive from Ramdin provided Vaas with his third wicket.

Ramdin faced 74 balls and struck one boundary.

Benn departed soon afterward when hesitation over a run with Taylor cost him as Tillakaratne Dilshan's direct hit from cover ran him out. The lanky left-hander hit two fours and a six.

Taylor played some authentic strokes and Daren Powell remained steadfast in an unbeaten six.