It was a day to forget for Sri Lanka as they were bundled out for just 101 in their second innings of the first Test against West Indies at North Sound on June 28 (Sunday). As a result, West Indies won the Test by an innings and 217 runs, one of their biggest margin of victory on home soil.
Biggest margin of victory for WI in Tests at home
inns & 219 runs vs BAN, North Sound, 2018
inns & 217 runs vs SL, North Sound, 2026
inns & 174 runs vs PAK, Kingston, 1958
inns & 161 runs vs ENG, Kingston, 1935
inns & 106 days vs AUS, Port of Spain, 1978
This is the first time West Indies have registered an innings win over Sri Lanka. Moreover, 101 is also Sri Lanka’s lowest total against the West Indies in Test cricket.
Lowest totals for SL vs WI in Tests
101, North Sound, 2026
150, Kandy, 2005
152, St John’s 1997
154, Bridgetown, 2018
169, North Sound, 2021
Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka on Day 3, after West Indies had taken an impressive 318-run first-innings lead thanks to a double century by Amir Jangoo (233) and a big ton by Roston Chase (194). This is also the first Test win for West Indies under Chase, since he took charge a year ago.
Day 4, however, completely belonged to the West Indies bowlers, with Kemar Roach (4/51) and Jayden Seales (3/14) sharing seven wickets between them. Roach also became only the fifth West Indies bowler to pick up 300 Test wickets.
Barring Dinesh Chandimal (43), no batter really got going, and as a result, Sri Lanka sank to an all-time low.
In fact, the only batter to get into double figures other than Chandimal was Sonal Dinusha, who remained unbeaten on 12. There would have been a lot of hopes pinned on skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, who slammed a magnificent century in the first inning, but he had to depart for a seven-ball duck.
Jangoo, Chase set it up for WI
Thanks to his ton, Sri Lanka got to a respectable 308. However, a record 401-run stand between Jangoo and Chase took the game away from the visitors and they could never catch up with the West Indies.
Overall, it was a performance to forget for Sri Lanka and they will look to bounce back in the second Test, starting July 3 at the same venue. Lahiru Kumara bowled just one over in the match and walked off due to a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka could look to Vishwa Fernando to fill in for him in the next Test.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 308 (Dhananjaya de Silva 120, Dinesh Chandimal 54; Justin Greaves 3/39) & 101 (Dinesh Chandimal 43, Sonal Dinusha 12*; Kemar Roach 4/51) lost to West Indies 626/9 decl. (Amir Jangoo 233, Roston Chase 194; Milan Rathnayake 5/124) by an innings & 217 runs
Player of the Match: Amir Jangoo
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