West Indies were reduced to 58 for 1 (Campbell 31*, King 17, Asitha 1-11) while Sri Lanka posted a commanding 549 for 9 declared (Udara 188, Dinusha 92, Kamindu 84, Shamar 2-98)
Sri Lanka batted for just over two sessions on day two before declaring at 549 for 9, whereas West Indies managed only 58 for 1 in their reply, trailing by 491 runs with Brandon King as the sole wicket to fall.John Campbell remained unbeaten on 31 off 77 balls, with Kavem Hodge (6 off 41) at the other end, as they tried to contain the Sri Lankan attack near the close of play. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka will regret several missed chances—two off Hodge and one off Campbell.
Campbell’s chance proved the most difficult, after a top‑edge pull sent Isitha Wijesundara racing from fine leg. He hesitated, unsure whether to attempt the catch or simply prevent the boundary, ultimately choosing the latter—but he failed to stop the ball from reaching the rope.
The next opportunity was equally challenging; Hodge’s top‑edge pull flew toward fine leg where a diving Sonal Dinusha got his hands to the ball but could not hold on.The clearest chance arrived in the last half‑hour, when Milan Rathnayaka’s probing delivery produced a thick edge to second slip. The fielder dropped the catch after being momentarily screened by Kusal Mendis’ flashing right glove; that fielder was Udara, who had also been dropped earlier in the day due to a similar mix‑up in the slips.
The sole chance Sri Lanka converted stemmed from fine fielding: Asitha Fernando induced an edge off King, and Kamindu Mendis at second slip gathered a low chance. Before that breakthrough, West Indies had begun steadily, adding 33 runs for the opening partnership.
Twelve of those runs were scored in a costly over from Wijesundara, as King attacked the debutant with confidence. Wijesundara may have been looking for extra movement on a fuller delivery, a tactic Campbell later exploited with a graceful inside‑out drive for six. Apart from that, Sri Lanka bowled tightly, conceding few runs—a performance they feel could have yielded more wickets.
The day, however, belonged to Sri Lanka, which built on the foundation laid on day one to add another 211 runs on day two. The stand was led by Kusal Mendis and Dinusha, who put on 143 runs off 246 balls. Both reached fifty, although Dinusha will lament falling just eight runs short of a maiden Test century, having already secured his first Test fifty.The bulk of the runs came in a 114‑run afternoon session, mirroring the previous day’s trend. The morning was a slow burn, producing only 64 runs, but Sri Lanka lost no wickets, setting the stage for an aggressive post‑lunch surge. In the first hour after the break, a Kusal‑led onslaught yielded 69 runs from just 12 overs.
A attempted scoop off Jayden Seales signalled the change in approach; it resulted in a boundary, but could have ended badly for Seales had Shai Hope, backtracking, managed to glove the ball.
Kusal capitalised on the reprieve, launching Alzarri Joseph for a flicked six over backward square leg on the very next over, then lifting a cut over the slips a couple of balls later. When Roston Chase was introduced, he fared no better—Kusal twice used his feet to loft him down the ground.
Kusal appeared poised to add more runs, but his innings ended when he missed a scoop attempt against Anderson Phillip and played the ball onto his stumps.
After Kusal’s departure, the scoring rate dropped, yet Dinusha partnered with Milan Rathnayaka for a 36‑run stand off 64 balls before being dismissed for 92 off 166 deliveries.
The breakthrough arrived from an unexpected quarter, as West Indies captain Roston Chase turned to his part‑time option, Kavem Hodge, and his slow left‑arm spin. Hodge conceded two boundaries—a reverse sweep behind point and a pull through midwicket—before delivering a length ball that gripped slightly, causing Dinusha to close his bat face too early; the ball popped up off a leading edge for an easy catch at cover.
Following the tea break, Prabath Jayasuriya and Milan Rathnayaka were encouraged to accelerate, producing an entertaining—if somewhat disordered—phase of play. Both batters swung freely, adding a valuable 20‑run partnership.
After Rathnayaka’s departure, top‑edging a sweep, debutant Kavem Hodge displayed intent, most notably striking him over deep midwicket, but a subsequent top‑edge ended his short innings and prompted the declaration.
Earlier in the day, West Indies’ fielding woes continued when they dropped a straightforward chance to dismiss Kusal Mendis after he edged the ball to first slip. Campbell shifted to his left, appeared to secure the catch, but the ball slipped from his hands. At 23, Kusal made the most of the lifeline.
