Stumps, Day 3: West Indies 318 for 4 (Hope 86*, Greaves 85*, Fernando 2-74) trail Sri Lanka 549 for 9 dec. (Udara 188, Dinusha 92, Seales 2-98) by 231 runs
A 174-run unbeaten fifth-wicket stand between Shai Hope and Justin Greaves has put the West Indies 32 runs away from forcing Sri Lanka to bat again in the second Test.
On a day that they only lost three wickets, the Caribbean side got to stumps on 318 for 4, still 231 runs adrift of the visitors’ first innings, 549 for 9, declared.
Hope and Greaves came together early in the second session with the score at 144 for 4. They batted expertly for 54 overs, ensuring the West Indies got to close of play without further loss.
Theirs was a partnership of control and sublime strokeplay. With the Sri Lankans targeting the stumps, the Barbadian duo responded with repeated flicks and clips through the on-side.
Hope’s 86* is his fourth 50-plus score in his last five innings, which includes two centuries. Meanwhile, Greaves’ unbeaten 85 is only his second half-century in 16 Tests.
Stumps, Day 2: West Indies 58 for 1 (Campbell 31*, King 17, Fernando 1-11) trail Sri Lanka 549 for 9 dec. (Udara 188, Dinusha 92, Seales 2-98) by 491 runs
The West Indies will enter Day 3 of the second Test 491 runs behind Sri Lanka, having gotten to stumps at 58 for the loss of Brandon King, responding to the visitors’ mammoth first innings total of 549 for nine, declared.
King was caught at slip off Asitha Fernando for 17 before Kavem Hodge (6*) joined John Campbell (31*), and the pair added 25 runs to see Windies through to close of play.
Having already batted 24 overs, Jayden Seales is confident the hosts can build a strong response on the North Sound wicket.
“Once the lacquer comes off and the hardness of the ball goes out, it's pretty easy to bat, whether you're bowling in a good area or not,” Seales said.
“And the wicket seems to be an easy-paced one now; it's more of a new-ball pitch.”
John Campbell (39), Brandon King (31), and Da Silva (20) all got starts before Amir Jangoo (233) and Roston Chase (194) took the game away from Sri Lanka in the first Test.
Jayden Seales reacts to a dropped catch (AFP/Getty Images)
Stumps, Day 1: Sri Lanka 338 for 5 (Udara 188, Kamindu 84, Shamar 2-60) vs. West Indies
The West Indies were made to toil on Friday’s first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Antigua and Barbuda.
A stunning century from Lahiru Udara (188) was at the heart of the Sri Lankan innings, which was paused on 338 at stumps at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The Caribbean seamers managed to snatch two late wickets to ensure half of the visiting side was back in the pavilion.
While welcoming back the recovered Shai Hope to the XI, the West Indies entered the contest without the services of Kemar Roach, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Still, Windies were coming off the high of an innings win, while Sri Lanka had four players unavailable, including two who featured in the first game.
The day began promising for the West Indies. They started well with the ball, claiming two early wickets. Yet a mammoth 215-run third-wicket partnership between Udara and Kamindu Mendis turned the tide squarely in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently met with Her Excellency Jiang Wei, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Antigua and Barbuda, to explore opportunities for collaboration in support of the organisation's long-term infrastructure and high-performance ambitions.
Central to the discussions was CWI's plan to develop a world-class High-Performance Center at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), which will serve as the organisation's administrative headquarters and premier high-performance training centre, providing a modern, integrated environment for player development, coaching, sports science, education and cricket operations.
Among the areas discussed were opportunities for Chinese enterprises’ participation in the design and construction of the facility, including the engagement of Chinese contractors and equipment suppliers, the procurement of construction materials, and the potential use of the campus by Chinese cricket stakeholders to support the continued growth and development of the sport in China.
CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring said the discussions represented an important step in advancing one of the organisation's most transformative initiatives.
"The development of our High-Performance Center and other facets of the Cricket West Indies Campus represents one of the most significant strategic investments in the future of West Indies cricket. We are committed to creating a world-class environment where our players, coaches and administrators can excel while positioning the West Indies as a hemispheric centre for cricket excellence.
Australia 127 for 2 (Mooney 61*, Gardner 35*; Henry 1-20) beat West Indies 125 for 7 (Matthews 30, Dottin 26*; Gardner 2-13) by 8 wickets
The West Indies have been eliminated from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup following an eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first semi-final at The Oval earlier today.
The Caribbean side struggled for rhythm batting first, allowing Australia to race to the well-below-par total for victory.
Australia, unchanged from victory over India at Lord’s on Sunday, won the toss and elected to field, with Lucy Hamilton’s first ball driven for four by Hayley Matthews.
The West Indies skipper hit further boundaries off Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux but run-scoring proved difficult throughout the powerplay.
They finished it 35 without loss, before Qiana Joseph, struggling for rhythm, was dropped on the boundary by Georgia Voll.
The pressure told on Matthews in the ninth over, bowled for 30 attempting a paddle sweep of Georgia Wareham’s first delivery, before Molineux ended Joseph’s difficult innings on 16.
