Sri Lanka vs West Indies 2nd Test Full Commentary

Welcome back for the West Indies' replay. The umpires and the players are out in the middle again. Brandon King and John Campbell open up for the West Indies. Asitha Fernando has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

... SECOND INNINGS ...

The declaration - The afternoon session injected sudden drama into the contest as both set batters cruised past their half-centuries. Anderson Phillip finally provided the breakthrough West Indies desperately craved, removing Kusal Mendis for 69 to break a mammoth 143-run stand. The hosts found a late surge of energy, also dismissing Sonal Dinusha for an agonizingly close 92 just before the break. Yet, despite the double-strike from a fighting Windies attack, the scoreboard tells the real story, Sri Lanka confidently breached the 500-run mark, walking off at a massive 516/7. West Indies picked up quick wickets at the start of the final session but the Sri Lankan tail managed to push the total to 549 before they finally declared.

The flawless morning grind - If Day 1 was about explosive counter-punching, the morning of Day 2 was a masterclass in pure, unyielding concentration. Overnight batters Kusal Mendis and Sonal Dinusha refused to give the West Indies bowlers an inch, defending solidly and capitalizing on anything loose. Barring a solitary dropped catch just before the drinks break, the duo played a risk-free, flawless brand of cricket to see through a completely wicketless first session, keeping the scoreboard ticking and slowly draining the energy out of the home side. They ended the first session at 402/5.

The Udara Avalanche - When the West Indies pacers left Sri Lanka gasping at 25/2 early on Day 1, it looked like a long, painful road ahead for the visitors. But Test cricket rewards those who can marry patience with aggression, and Lahiru Udara did exactly that. Playing the innings of a lifetime, Udara smashed a breathtaking 188, stitching a record-breaking 215-run partnership with the elegant Kamindu Mendis (84). Together, they systematically dismantled the hosts' bowling plans, turning a morning crisis into a position of absolute power at 338/5 by stumps on Day 1.

Milan Rathnayaka falls for 15. Isitha Wijesundara walks in.

Welcome back for Sri Lanka's innings again. They now have a lead of 50 runs. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Nishan Madushka and Lahiru Udara open up for Sri Lanka. Jayden Seales to start with the new ball. Let's play...

... THIRD INNINGS ...

A hard-earned lead for Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka had to work extremely hard for the remaining wickets as Justin Greaves continued to frustrate the visitors with a superb display of resilience. The all-rounder brought up a magnificent 150 and ended with 180 off 325, finding good support from Alzarri Joseph, who chipped in with a valuable cameo to keep the deficit shrinking. Eventually, the visitors wrapped up the innings for 499, with Asitha Fernando finishing as the standout performer with a well-earned five-wicket haul after a relentless spell of bowling. However, Sri Lanka's first-innings lead was trimmed to just 50 runs - far less than they would have hoped after posting 549. With plenty of time still left in the Test, all eyes will now be on the visitors' approach in their second innings and whether they choose to press aggressively for victory or assess the conditions before making their move.

Asitha's double strike - Coming out after the Lunch break, the relentless Justin Greaves continued his marathon knock, finding a steady partner in Roston Chase. The pair looked untroubled, rotating the strike cleanly to stitch together a valuable 52-run partnership. But just as the West Indies looked set to completely bat Sri Lanka out of the session, speedster Asitha Fernando turned the game on its head right before the drinks break. With some short balls, Asitha snapped up two quick wickets, dismissing Chase and then Anderson Phillip, to trigger a sudden slide to 441/7 and breathe fresh life back into the Sri Lankan camp.

The Hope-Greaves rescue mission - Just when Sri Lanka threatened to run away with the game, Shai Hope and Justin Greaves joined forces for a historic rescue act. They batted through the rest of Day 3 and seamlessly carried their dominance into Day 4, with both batters bringing up magnificent, flawless centuries. Their mammoth 242-run partnership completely deflated the bowling side and comfortably saved the follow-on, before Hope was finally out in a bizarre stumping off Sonal Dinusha for a brilliant 112, leaving the scorecard at 406/5 at Lunch.

A topsy-turvy start - West Indies began their uphill battle trying to chip away at Sri Lanka's massive first-innings total. They lost Brandon King in the final session of Day 2, and ended Day 2 at 58/1. John Campbell anchored the morning session with a gritty 72, teaming up with Kavem Hodge to lay a rock-solid foundation. However, the post-Lunch session completely belonged to Sri Lanka's spin maestro, Prabath Jayasuriya. In a sudden, dramatic twist, the Caribbean side collapsed from a comfortable 122/1 to a worrying 144/4, losing Amir Jangoo and a well-set Hodge in quick succession as the spinning ball started to talk.

Welcome back, folks. West Indies need 302 runs to win. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. John Campbell and Brandon King open up for the West Indies. Asitha Fernando to start with the new ball. Let's go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

An interesting chase awaits - So, West Indies need 302 runs to win. There would be no panic stations as they already hold a lead in the series and would simply aim to survive both sessions. Sri Lanka's immediate plan will be to strike early with the new ball, looking to rattle the hosts right from the start. As they must win this match to prevent a series whitewash, Sri Lanka will undoubtedly be the more desperate team to force a result. We will be back shortly with the start of the chase. Stay tuned.

Acceleration and quick wickets - Once that foundation was secure, the lower-middle order was given the instructions to manufacture quick runs. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva led by example, blasting a rapid 34 off just 34 balls. Sonal Dinusha chipped in with a high-impact cameo of 27, ensuring the run rate hovered around the 5-runs-per-over mark for the session. But in the process of acceleration, they kept losing wickets and slipped from 195/5 to 251/9 before pulling the plug. West Indies bowling unit fought back with a cluster of late wickets as Sri Lanka looked to maximise every ball. Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the seamers, picking up 2/44 by hitting hard lengths, while Shamar Joseph and Anderson Phillip extracted occasional variable bounce to pick up a wicket apiece. Roston Chase also reeled in a crucial breakthrough in his brief spell.

Chandimal led the charge - Sri Lanka's second innings batting was a clinical exercise in controlled acceleration. Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis picked up right where they left off overnight, both looking to push the scoring along rather than settle into anything watchful. The intent was clear from the first over, with Sri Lanka wanting to shove the lead beyond a certain figure before thinking about a declaration. That plan hit a small snag when Kamindu fell early in the session, unable to add much before he was dismissed, but Chandimal carried on regardless and brought up a well-made half-century, batting with the same fluency that has carried him through this passage of red ball cricket.

There is the signal from the dressing room! Dhananjaya de Silva has called his batters in, and SRI LANKA HAVE DECLARED. Sri Lanka have set the West Indies a target of 302 runs to chase or, a block of overs to survive on a wearing Day 5 surface. With around 63 overs and almost two full sessions left in the day, the visitors now have a clear window to hunt for 10 wickets, while the hosts face a massive test of survival.

The lead goes past 300 for Sri Lanka. Dhananjaya de Silva is out on the balcony of the dressing room. So it seems like the declaration is just around the corner.

Asitha Fernando is the last batter in for Sri Lanka.

An umpire's review at the bowling end. Kavem Hodge is convinced that Jayasuriya is short of his crease. The replay ball clearly deflects off the bowler's hand and crashes into the stumps. It is confirmed by the UltraEdge edge as well. And Prabath is caught out of the crease when the ball rattles the stumps.

Spin in tandem. Kavem Hodge will bowl from the other end?

First things first, NO DECLARATION BY SRI LANKA. A bit surprising. Maybe, they are looking to push the lead beyond 300. Prabath Jayasuriya and Milan Rathnayaka walk to the crease to resume their batting. Samuel Badree on air informs that the two Sri Lankan batters were already out on the field waiting, while the players of West Indies took their time heading out. But the hosts won't mind that. Roston Chase will start the session with the ball. Here we go...

Time to close the door - Roston Chase is now called up to collect the Sobers-Tissera Trophy 2026. He walks over to his teammates who have been waiting for their captain to join them for the photographs and the entire squad comes together to celebrate a win that has arrived in truly commanding fashion. And with that it brings us to the end of an absorbing all-format series between West Indies and Sri Lanka. The Islanders started well winning the ODI series 1-0 with two games washed out along the way. The T20I series that followed was won handsomely by the hosts 2-1 before West Indies made a statement in the Tests winning the opener by an innings and 217 runs and closing out the series with a draw in the final game. West Indies will now prepare for a 5-match ODI series at home against New Zealand, beginning on Sunday, 12th July 2026. So it's a quick turnaround for them and the first ODI will be played in Guyana. As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, they have a bit of a break to get ready for their next assignment, which is a two-match Test series versus India, at home. It begins on Saturday, 15th August 2026, in Galle. But there is plenty of cricketing action going on elsewhere to follow. From here, we signoff, only to meet again. Take care, cheers!

The victorious captain of West Indies - Roston Chase, on his first series win as West Indies captain, calls it by far his greatest achievement as a West Indies player, pointing to the 23 year wait to beat Sri Lanka as the driving force behind the team's performance. On answering critics with his own performances, he speaks to the beauty of sport, where a long lean patch can suddenly turn around in a single moment. Adds that leading from the front by putting in the hard work felt magnificent and helped inspire belief throughout the team. About the progress of the West Indies side, he mentions that he is pleased with the direction the team is heading. Notes that while the bowlers usually carry the bulk of the workload, it was the batters who stood tall this series, with four big centuries, exactly what he has been demanding from the group. He adds that consistent scoring is essential if West Indies want to compete as a top Test nation and believes the bowling attack is already strong enough to get them there once the batting keeps improving. When he is asked about his favourite moment of the series, he picks out Kemar Roach's 300th Test wicket as very special, recalling the celebrations as the players jumped on Roach's back while he savoured the moment. On handing over the captaincy to Shai Hope, he says representing West Indies is always an honour, whether as captain or simply as a player, adding that the focus now shifts to the next series ahead.

The captain of Sri Lanka - Dhananjaya de Silva, on the decision to bat first, explains that the surface looked a touch drier than the previous game, and with Prabath in the side as the main spinner, he had the fourth innings very much in mind while making that call. On whether Lahiru Udara was a big positive, he agrees wholeheartedly, noting that Udara missed the first match and was hungry to get some runs and force his way back into the eleven. Adds that he has since proved he belongs in that side. When asked whether Sri Lanka could have done anything differently to force a result, he feels not really, pointing out that the pitch was still turning even on day five, while also admitting the side lacked an X-factor bowler capable of hitting the 140 to 145 kph mark. He felt the batting held up well, but says the bowling group will need to head back and review their performance. On being asked about what the learnings are from this series, he notes that taking 20 wickets in a game remains something that is always on his mind in Test cricket, reiterating the need for an X-factor bowler in the side who can strike in any given situation.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH AND SERIES - JUSTIN GREAVES receives the award for his outstanding all-round display throughout the series. He scored 183 runs and picked up 4 wickets ​​​​​​as well. On his century and overall batting approach, Justin Greaves says the focus throughout was on batting for the team, crediting the preparation put in before the series along with the challenge the bowling group provided in training. He adds that once he got to the crease his sole focus was putting his head down and staying there for as long as he could. On converting starts into big scores, he keeps it simple, citing Kemar Roach's mantra of staying hungry, adding that once set, it's important to stay in, given you never know when the next opportunity will come, which is why he tries to make the most of every start. On batting at this venue, he calls it a nice place to bat, helped by the familiarity of having played franchise cricket here before, reiterating that capitalising once set is key. About switching from Test cricket to the white ball format, he says it comes down to sticking to the basics and staying disciplined, adding that he will take a couple of days before shifting focus to white ball cricket, with his overall approach remaining much the same.

... Time for the post-match Presentation ...

The moments both sides missed - Chances went down in both innings, and each proved costly in its own way. West Indies let Kusal Mendis off on 23 and Lahiru Udara on 55 during Sri Lanka's first innings, and both went on to make significant contributions, Udara converting his chance into a match-defining 188 and Mendis adding useful runs further down the order. Sri Lanka returned the favour with interest, putting down Kavem Hodge twice in the West Indies innings, once on 1 and again on 5, and Hodge went on to build a proper innings around those lives. Add it up and both totals carried some fat that shouldn't have been there.

The openers refused to bow down - With a couple of sessions still left on the final day and 302 to chase, it was just about biding time in the middle for West Indies. Sri Lanka needed all ten wickets on a surface that offered the bowlers absolutely nothing with the new ball doing little off it and even as the day wore on genuine opportunities were hard to come by. Against that backdrop the West Indies openers looked completely unbothered at the crease and simply went about their business unchallenged. Even though Prabath Jayasuriya troubled King on a couple of occasions, that was that. Both John Campbell and Brandon King brought up their respective half centuries with rain playing its fair part in between. But as soon as 40 overs were completed, they decided to shake hands to draw curtains.

Runs, runs, and more runs - West Indies were bowled out for 499, just 50 behind their opponents, and Sri Lanka were straight back out there, 92/2 by stumps on the penultimate day after a bit of a sloppy start. Chandimal and Kamindu already looked to push the scoring along rather than settle in. Both picked up right where they left off overnight. The intent was clear from the first over of the final day, with Sri Lanka wanting to shove the lead past 200 and beyond before thinking about a declaration. That plan hit a small snag when Kamindu fell early in the session, unable to add much before he was dismissed, but Chandimal carried on regardless and brought up a well-made half-century, batting with the same fluency. But after Chandimal fell, there was an evident shift in intent to get the lead past 300, which they did get through crucial and brisk middle order contributions from the likes of Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinusha and Milan. Eventually, they decided to pull the plug with a 301 lead.

A marathon stand brought the hosts back - West Indies had their own start undone early on Day 4, with Campbell and Hodge both gone inside the first hour and a half. But once Hope and Greaves came together at 144 for 4, the game simply stopped moving in any other direction. An alliance of 242 runs, at a canter, both batters parked themselves at the crease and batted with complete control. It took a complete change of plan, as Asitha Fernando went short and hard at the ball rather than hoping for something off the seam, to finally end it. Greaves fell for 180, Hope for 112, and Fernando walked off with five wickets from pure toil rather than assistance.

Full marks to Sri Lanka - No doubt. Be it Lahiru Udara grinding his way to 188 on a batting friendly wicket, or Kamindu Mendis playing the perfect foil around him, Sri Lanka batted like a side that knew exactly what this surface demanded. Patience first, punishment later. Their 215 run stand set the platform, and from there Dinusha and Kusal Mendis simply refused to let West Indies back into the contest, grinding out 143 more for the sixth wicket before the tail found some late runs. 549 for 9 was a proper declaration score, and it came from a batting unit that occupied close to two full days.

It's a DRAW - There we have it, folks. Hands are shaken out in the middle as soon as 40 overs are completed. And just like that, this pulsating run-laden Test comes to a close, ending in a draw that will leave Sri Lanka with a tinge of regret and disappointment. Smiles all around in the West Indian camp as they have not only won the series 1-0 but have beaten Sri Lanka in a Test series for the first time in 23 long years, on home soil or away, irrespective, having last won in June 2003. Also, this is West Indies' first Test series win against any team since 2023 and a first Test series win at home since 2022. So it's a win that will mean a lot to them and they have plenty of positives to take on with several impactful performances.