West Indies sealed a historic Test series win over Sri Lanka with the second and final Test in Antigua, played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium ending in a draw. The hosts successfully batted through the final day and defended a difficult fourth-innings target in achieving one of their biggest Test achievements for several years, sealing the series 1-0.
The bat dominated proceedings in the opener. The top and middle order batted productively in Sri Lanka’s first innings as they declared on a mammoth 549 for 9. In reply, West Indies fought back magnificently through sensational centuries from Justin Greaves and Shai Hope to 499 all out. Their monumental 242-run effort saved the home side from following-on after being way behind early on in their innings and kept the contest very much alive.
Sri Lanka, hoping to push for a result, set West Indies 302 runs to win in the final innings by declaring their second innings at 251-9. The Caribbean side opted to play with caution rather than take unnecessary risks. Openers John Campbell and Brandon King put together a steady partnership throughout the final session to deny Sri Lanka.
Campbell and King blended patience with stout defensive technique to ensure no last-minute collapses. Well-structured batting saw them to 109 without loss, and the two captains ended the contest with an agreement that a draw would be in order. It was enough for the home team to win the series and it is also another sign of progress in their recently revitalised Test cricket.
Sri Lanka scored more than 800 runs across two innings despite dominating large parts of the match but couldn’t pick up the last 10 wickets needed on the final day. For the West Indies, it was not only Shai Hope but also Campbell and King who delivered resilience that ultimately proved crucial in terms of the overall outcome of the series.
The importance of patience and partnerships in the red-ball format was further highlighted in the drawn Test. The win will give a massive confidence-booster to the West Indies ahead of upcoming international fixtures and Sri Lanka can only look back at what could have been, having produced several brilliant batting performances throughout the series. The quality of the two teams ensured that an enticing contest ended as perfectly played Test cricket over five days.
