Karunaratne was unbeaten on 135 along with Dinesh Chandimal who has so far made 72 in an unbroken stand of 149 at the Galle global Stadium on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
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Left-handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne fell 14 runs short of a double century when he lobbed a return catch to bowler Marlon Samuels five minutes before lunch to give the West Indies a few respite.
He hit 16 fours and two sixes in his stroke-filled 298-ball knock before falling for 151 to paceman Jerome Taylor.
West Indies was sloppy on the field, putting down four catches. Herath, 37, has hinted that he may retire next year, but at the ground where in his last appearance he took a match-winning seven wickets against India, he will be key to Sri Lanka’s prospects of notching up another victory in a match that is likely to be affected by the weather. Chandimal was dropped twice, first on 11 and then on 82.
He added 86 with the captain Angelo Mathews (48) before West Indies started to make inroads just before tea.
Sir Garfield Sobers, who is being honoured by Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) this series, Sir Learie Constantine and Sir Frank Worrell, worked in addition to Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Leonard Hutton and Sir Jack Hobbs.
Devendra Bishoo (4-143) played a leading role in ensuring Sri Lanka’s tail did not hang around, but Thursday’s morning session provided little encouragement for the Windies.
The quick end to the innings might have lifted West Indies’ spirits but Herath soon reminded them of the huge task still facing them just to save the game. But he was sent packing after scoring 23 when he was bowled by Herath, the ball clipping offstump after turning past the batsman’s outside edge.
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West Indies XI: K Brathwaite, S Hope, Darren Bravo, M Samuels, J Blackwood, D Ramdin+, J Holder*, D Bishoo, J Taylor, K Roach, S Gabriel.
