West Indies sealed a historic 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka after a thrilling high-scoring draw in Antigua, marking their first series victory over the Lankans in 23 years. The second Test ended in a draw, but the Windies' emphatic innings win in the opener set the tone for the series.
West Indies Dominate with Bat and Ball
The Windies batters showed no urgency as Sri Lanka pushed for a result, but it was too little, too late. Justin Greaves smashed 180, and Shai Hope contributed 112 as West Indies posted 499 in their first innings. Sri Lanka responded with 549/9 decl, thanks to Lahiru Udara's 188 and Sonal Dinusha's 92.
- Sri Lanka 549/9 decl (Lahiru Udara 188, Sonal Dinusha 92, Kamindu Mendis 84; Jayden Seales 2-98, Shamar Joseph 2-98)
- West Indies 499 (Justin Greaves 180, Shai Hope 112; Asitha Fernando 5-130)
- Sri Lanka 251/9 decl (Dinesh Chandimal 71, Kamindu Mendis 44; Alzarri Joseph 2-44)
- West Indies 109/0 (John Campbell 51*, Brandon King 51*)
Unbroken Openers Seal the Draw
On the final day, Sri Lanka declared at 251/9, setting up a tense finish. However, West Indies openers John Campbell and Brandon King remained unbroken, with both scoring fifties as the match ended in a draw. Campbell finished on 51*, while King also ended on 51*.
The Windies' bowlers had done enough to restrict Sri Lanka, and their openers did the rest to secure the draw and the series win. Prabath Jayasuriya's appeal for LBW against King was turned down after a review, and the West Indies pair saw out the remaining overs.
What's Next for West Indies?
With this series win, West Indies have now secured back-to-back Test series victories. The Windies will look to continue their momentum in their upcoming fixtures, with fans eagerly anticipating their next match.
