Kraigg Brathwaite's West Indies side completed a commanding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on the fourth morning of their second Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. The hosts needed just 96 runs to win after dismissing Sri Lanka for 204 in their second innings, wrapping up the match before lunch on a surface that offered consistent bounce and turn for the slower bowlers.
Chase Completed Without Alarm
West Indies openers Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis knocked off the required runs in 18.3 overs without losing a wicket. Brathwaite finished 51 not out, playing the anchor role that has defined his 12-year Test career. Louis contributed an unbeaten 40, including seven boundaries, demonstrating the aggressive intent that earned him his debut cap last month. The pair rotated the strike efficiently on a pitch that had offered sharp turn for the Sri Lankan spinners on days two and three.
Sri Lanka's Second Innings Collapse
The visitors began their second innings on 91 for 3, still trailing by 14 runs. Their tail offered token resistance before folding for 204, giving West Indies a target that never threatened to become challenging. Prabath Jayasuriya top-scored with 68, the left-arm spinner showing resilience that contrasted sharply with the tentative footwork displayed by several of his top-order colleagues. Jayasuriya shared a 52-run partnership with captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who managed only 23 before nicking behind to Joshua Da Silva.
Dhananjaya de Silva's Leadership Gap
De Silva, leading the side in Karunaratne's absence through illness, scored 19 before miscuing a pull shot to square leg. His decision to declare at 356 for 9 in the first innings left West Indies with a first-innings deficit of 109 runs—a choice that backfired when his bowlers failed to extract reverse swing on a used surface. The Sri Lankan coaching staff will review whether the pitch report from the venue warranted a more conservative batting approach.
First Innings Deficit Proved Decisive
West Indies posted 247 all out in their first innings, with Kevin Wickham scoring a patient 74 at number three. The 22-year-old's conversion of a start into a substantial score answered questions about his temperament at this level. Gudakesh Motie added a useful 41 at number eight, his highest Test score, providing the lower-order firepower that Sri Lanka lacked. The home side's bowlers then restricted Sri Lanka to 138 in their first innings, with Alzarri Joseph taking 4 for 32 with his express pace.
Pace Attack Dominates Early Exchanges
Joseph's opening spell on day one set the tone for the match. He extracted awkward bounce from a good length, striking twice in his first five overs to leave Sri Lanka at 12 for 2. His celebration after removing Nishan Madhushka—a short-arm jab that ballooned to gully—suggested a man buoyed by the selectors' decision to persist with him despite an economy rate that had concerned team management in the preceding series against Bangladesh. Jayden Seales supported with 3 for 28, his persistent off-stump line suffocating Sri Lanka's middle order.
What This Victory Means for West Indies
The win lifts West Indies above Sri Lanka into sixth place on the World Test Championship standings, earning them valuable points ahead of away series in Australia and England next year. Head coach Andre Coley will particularly welcome the performance of his spinners, who had been criticised for failing to build pressure in helpful conditions during the series against Bangladesh. Motie and Cornwall combined for 11 wickets in the match, the first time West Indies' slow bowlers have controlled a Test on a turning track since their 2021 victory over Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Looking Ahead: Sri Lanka's Challenges
Sri Lanka must now regroup before their home series against Australia begins in late January. The tourists have won only two of their last eight Test matches away from Colombo, and the batting coach will focus on building innings in the middle order rather than attempting to accelerate against the new ball. Their next assignment in the Caribbean—a three-day practice match in Barbados—will provide match practice on a different surface type before the Gabba assignment.
West Indies will enjoy a seven-week break before hosting South Africa in a two-Test series that begins in Cape Town. The South African attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, will present a sterner challenge than Sri Lanka managed. Brathwaite's side must decide whether to persist with Cornwall's off-spin or blood another young quick in conditions that typically favour seam movement. The selectors' next squad announcement, expected within three weeks, will clarify their strategy.
See Also
- Durban Scholar Pushes Indian Ocean Security Agenda
- Maharashtra Monsoon: When Rains Finally Break the Heat
His celebration after removing Nishan Madhushka—a short-arm jab that ballooned to gully—suggested a man buoyed by the selectors' decision to persist with him despite an economy rate that had concerned team management in the preceding series against Bangladesh. Head coach Andre Coley will particularly welcome the performance of his spinners, who had been criticised for failing to build pressure in helpful conditions during the series against Bangladesh.
