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Sri Lanka 549 for 9 dec (Udara 188, Dinusha 92, Seales 2-98, Shamar 2-98) and 251 for 9 dec (Chandimal 71, Alzarri 2-44) drew with West Indies 499 (Greaves 180, Hope 112, Asitha 5-130) and 109 for 0 (Campbell 51, King 51)
After a marathon five-day encounter marked by 1,408 runs and 28 wickets, including rain delays, the inevitable draw unfolded in North Sound as Sri Lanka and West Indies shared the points in the second and final Test. The stalemate secured West Indies’ first Test series win in 11 attempts, ending a streak that date back to their 2023 triumph and their last home series victory in June 2022.
The rarity of this achievement likely shaped West Indies’ strategic approach throughout the match, which also marked the first drawn Test in 2026. Following Sri Lanka’s commanding first-innings score, West Indies’ response—a target of 302—proved manageable, with openers John Campbell and Brandon King not underestimating their task despite the low score.
The pair’s half-centuries—Campbell’s second consecutive fifty in the match—offered promising signs for West Indies’ batting lineup, which had faced recent struggles in the longest format. With World Test Championship points holding little significance after their series elimination, the hosts prioritized securing the series, though Sri Lanka’s resilient batting on a true, unyielding surface presented a genuine challenge for the visitors.
Despite the draw, Sri Lanka entered the final morning with lingering optimism. Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, resuming at 251 for 9, aggressively targeted West Indies’ bowlers, rattling the opposition with calculated risks. Their approach paid off, accelerating at 5.79 runs per over in the session, amassing 139 runs in 24 overs.
Dinesh Chandimal cuts one away•AFP/Getty Images
However, aggressive play came at a cost. Six wickets fell in the first two hours, the most in a session all Test, as Sri Lanka navigated misfortune. Kamindu Mendis top-edged a drive, Dhananjaya de Silva was caught, and Chandimal and Kusal Mendis fell to speculative shots. Sonal Dinusha’s run-out and Isitha Wijesundara’s dismissal further compounded the home side’s struggles.
The latter part of the day mirrored ODI finishing phases, with Sri Lanka scrambling for every run. Yet errors—not pitch conditions—proved decisive. At lunch, a 281-run lead sparked declaration speculation, but Sri Lanka opted to extend their advantage, declaring mid-afternoon after surpassing their 300-run target in three overs.
While Campbell and King navigated West Indies’ target with relative ease, the extra time spent batting may have been a calculated move to widen the margin, slightly diminishing the chasing team’s time available. Sri Lanka’s bowlers—supported by Prabath Jayasuriya—struggled to contain the visitors, though variable bounce occasionally tested their resolve.
A key moment came when Jayasuriya dismissed King lbw via DRS, though the review revealed the ball bounced over the stumps—a narrow “umpire’s call.” Despite this, Campbell and King reached 65 for 0 at tea, underscoring West Indies’ dominance. Brief rain delays punctuated play, but thorough ground staff ensured meaningful action resumed post-tea.
The match concluded in handshake after 40 overs, with West Indies ending on 109 for no wickets—a fitting close to a contest dominated by batting prowess.
