West Indies celebrated a memorable Test series triumph after the second and final Test against Sri Lanka finished in a high-scoring draw in Antigua. Having already taken a commanding 1-0 lead with an innings victory in the opening Test, the Caribbean side sealed their first Test series win since February 2023. The result also marked West Indies’ first Test series triumph over Sri Lanka in 23 years, ending a long wait in impressive fashion.
Played on a batting-friendly surface, the second Test never truly offered enough assistance for bowlers to force a decisive result. Both teams piled on runs across five days, with Sri Lanka showing greater urgency on the final day, but West Indies comfortably batted out the remainder of the contest to complete a significant series victory.
Sri Lanka’s positive approach sets up an unlikely chase
Resuming the final day on 92/2, Sri Lanka looked determined to inject some life into the contest. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha and Milan Rathnayake all played aggressive cameos as the visitors accelerated the scoring rate in an attempt to create a result. West Indies employed defensive fields and conservative bowling plans to slow the scoring, but Sri Lanka maintained their attacking intent throughout the morning session. The visitors added 139 runs before lunch at nearly six runs per over, willingly sacrificing wickets to build a sizeable advantage.
By the lunch interval, Sri Lanka had stretched their lead to 281 runs before adding a few more in the afternoon. Once the lead crossed the 300-run mark, the visitors declared on 251/9, setting West Indies a theoretical target but leaving limited time to force a result. Although Sri Lanka’s bowlers extracted occasional uneven bounce from the pitch, the surface remained largely favourable for batting. Any hopes of a dramatic finish depended on early breakthroughs, but those never arrived.
John Campbell and Brandon King ensure comfortable finish for West Indies
Openers John Campbell and Brandon King removed any lingering doubts with a composed unbeaten partnership. The pair looked untroubled from the outset, rotating the strike comfortably while punishing loose deliveries. Sri Lanka thought they had found a breakthrough when King was adjudged leg before wicket during the afternoon session. However, the batter immediately reviewed the decision, and technology overturned the on-field call, allowing him to continue his innings.
Two brief rain interruptions around tea temporarily halted play, but neither delay significantly reduced the overs available. Once play resumed, Campbell and King continued to bat confidently, bringing up their respective half-centuries without taking unnecessary risks. With West Indies reaching 109 without loss and both openers firmly in control, the captains agreed to shake hands, bringing the match to an inevitable draw.
While the second Test produced no outright winner, the series belonged convincingly to West Indies. Justin Greaves‘ outstanding 180 and Shai Hope‘s century in the first innings had laid the platform after Sri Lanka posted 549/9 declared, while disciplined batting on the final day ensured the hosts completed a landmark series victory. The 1-0 success not only ended a lengthy wait for a Test series win but also represented an important step forward for a side looking to rebuild its reputation in the longest format.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 549/9 decl. & 251/9 decl. drew with West Indies 499 & 109/0. West Indies won the two-match Test series 1-0.
