West Indies have won the 1st Test from Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs. West Indies produced a dominant all-round display to defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs in the opening Test. The hosts controlled the match from the first session to the last and secured a deserved 1-0 lead in the series.
Their batters piled on the runs. The host fast bowlers maintained relentless pressure. As a result, Sri Lanka never found a way back into the contest.
Sri Lanka began the match on a positive note after posting 308 in their first innings.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva led from the front with a superb century, scoring 120. Dinesh Chandimal also played an important role with a determined half-century to help the visitors reach a respectable total.
However, West Indies kept chipping away with regular wickets. Justin Greaves led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 39, while Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph claimed two wickets each.
Although Sri Lanka crossed the 300-run mark, the total eventually proved far from enough.
West Indies responded with one of their finest batting performances in recent years.
Amir Jangoo stole the spotlight with a career-best innings. The left-hander reached his maiden Test half-century before converting it into his first Test century. He continued to dominate the Sri Lankan attack and eventually compiled a magnificent 233.
Captain Roston Chase provided outstanding support at the other end. He produced a marathon innings of 194 and narrowly missed out on a double century.
Together, the pair built a huge partnership that completely shifted the match in West Indies’ favor.
Their efforts powered the hosts to an imposing 626 for 9 declared and gave the bowling attack a massive cushion.
Sri Lanka’s Milan Rathnayake fought hard despite the difficult conditions and finished with a five-wicket haul. However, his efforts could not prevent West Indies from taking complete control.
Trailing by 318 runs Sri Lanka needed a strong second innings to stay alive in the match.
Instead the Sri Lanka collapsed under sustained pressure from the West Indies pace attack in 1st Test.
Kemar Roach struck early to remove key batters, while Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph added to Sri Lanka’s problems with accurate and aggressive spells.
By lunch on the fourth day, Sri Lanka had slumped to 81 for 6 and faced an almost impossible task.
Dinesh Chandimal battled bravely for 43 and attempted to delay the inevitable. However, he received little support from the remaining batters.
Roach returned after lunch to dismiss Chandimal before cleaning up the tail. He finished with four wickets in the innings and completed another memorable milestone by becoming only the fifth West Indies bowler to reach 300 Test wickets.
West Indies outplayed Sri Lanka in every department throughout the Test.
Their batters showed patience and authority. bowlers attacked with pace and discipline. Their fielding remained sharp from start to finish.
The comprehensive victory gives the hosts a valuable lead in the series and plenty of confidence heading into the second Test.
Sri Lanka meanwhile, face several questions after a disappointing performance in 1st Test against West Indies. Despite individual contributions from Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal and Milan Rathnayake, the visitors struggled to compete once West Indies seized momentum.
In the end the Caribbean side delivered a commanding performance and deservedly celebrated one of their most convincing Test victories in recent years.