Stumps, Day 4: Sri Lanka 549 for 9 dec & 92 for 2 (Chandimal 40*, Kamindu 30*, Alzarri 1-17) lead West Indies 499 (Greaves 180, Hope 112, Fernando 5-130) by 142 runs
All three results are still possible ahead of Tuesday’s final day of the second Test between the West Indies and Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.
Despite two early strikes from the West Indians in the evening session, Dinesh Chandimal (40*) and Kamindu Mendis (30*) stitched together an unbroken 60-run partnership to see the visitors stretch their lead to 142 runs at close of play.
On a day that Sri Lanka tried everything with the ball, the West Indies might have thought they batted themselves to safety after Justin Greaves’ 180 helped the Caribbean side occupy the crease for a little over two sessions on the penultimate day, trimming the visitors’ first innings advantage to 50 runs before they were dismissed for 499.
The overnight pair of Greaves and Shai Hope resumed batting with Windies 318 for four and still trailing by 231. Once again, the discipline from the visiting bowlers meant they had to grind out every run during the morning session.
Sri Lanka missed an opportunity for the perfect start after failing to review one Hope had feathered down the leg side to the wicketkeeper in the first over.
He capitalized on the opportunity, extending the fifth-wicket partnership with Greaves to 242. They eventually brought up individual milestones. The classy Hope was the first to raise his bat. He notched a fifth Test ton, his third since his recall to the side last summer and a first in the Caribbean.
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.
