WI Won Test Series Against SL After Antigua Draw

ANTIGUA: WI won test series against SL after the second Test finished in a draw at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, handing the hosts a 1-0 triumph in the two-match contest. The result secured West Indies' first Test series victory since February 2023 and their first over Sri Lanka in more than two decades.

The foundation for the series success had already been laid in the opening Test, where West Indies claimed an innings victory. That result meant the hosts only needed to avoid defeat in the final match to lift the series, a position they managed comfortably despite Sri Lanka's attempts to force a decisive finish.

Sri Lanka Searched for a Result

Knowing a draw would hand the trophy to the home side, Sri Lanka accelerated the tempo on the final day. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha and Milan Rathnayake all scored quickly as the visitors looked to build a sizeable target while leaving enough overs to attack with the ball.

The aggressive approach pushed Sri Lanka's lead beyond 300 before the declaration came. Although wickets fell during the charge, the visitors succeeded in creating enough time to pursue 10 wickets.

West Indies Stay in Control

West Indies approached the chase without taking unnecessary risks. Openers John Campbell and Brandon King negotiated the new ball confidently and rarely appeared under sustained pressure despite occasional assistance for the Sri Lankan bowlers.

A successful review also proved important after King overturned an on-field lbw decision against spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Both openers later completed half-centuries before the captains agreed to end the contest, confirming that WI defeated SL in 2nd Test only in terms of the overall series outcome, with the match itself ending in a draw and West Indies sealing the trophy 1-0.

Brief rain interruptions around the tea interval reduced the playing rhythm but did little to alter the direction of the match. Once it became clear Sri Lanka were unlikely to force a collapse, the draw became the expected outcome.

The series victory gives West Indies an important boost in the longest format after a prolonged wait for success, while Sri Lanka leave the Caribbean without a Test win despite finishing the second match on the front foot.