Lahiru Udara: Sri Lanka Dominate Despite Late West Indies Fightback
Lahiru Udara’s brilliant 188 guides Sri Lanka into a commanding position before West Indies strike twice late on the opening day of the second Test.
Lahiru Udara celebrates his career-best innings against the West Indies.
Lahiru Udara produced the finest innings of his Test career with a superb 188 as Sri Lanka dominated the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies in North Sound.
The opener fell just 12 runs short of a maiden Test double century. Nevertheless, his outstanding knock put Sri Lanka in a commanding position after they chose to bat first.
West Indies fought back in the final half hour by claiming two wickets. However, Sri Lanka remained firmly on top after a day largely controlled by their batters.
The visitors made a shaky start when Shamar Joseph dismissed Nishan Madushka and Dinesh Chandimal inside the opening hour. Madushka cut straight to point, while Chandimal flicked the ball to square leg.
At 25 for 2, Sri Lanka faced early pressure on a pitch that offered movement for the fast bowlers.
Udara responded with remarkable composure. He weathered the early conditions before punishing loose deliveries with confidence. His patient approach gradually shifted the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favor.
The 32-year-old shared a record-breaking 215-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who scored an attacking 84 from 120 balls. The stand became Sri Lanka’s highest Test partnership in the Caribbean.
After Kamindu’s dismissal, captain Dhananjaya de Silva joined Udara for another valuable partnership worth 93 runs. Together, they frustrated the West Indies attack during the final session.
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Udara struck 188 from 248 deliveries, including four sixes. His innings featured excellent stroke play on both sides of the wicket and showcased impressive control throughout the day.
West Indies finally ended his marathon innings when he top-edged a catch to deep fine leg after receiving treatment earlier for lower back discomfort.
Soon afterward, Jayden Seales dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for a determined 33, bringing further relief to the home side.
The wicket also marked a personal milestone for Seales. He became the second-fastest West Indian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets in terms of deliveries bowled, behind only Ian Bishop.
Earlier, West Indies struggled to maintain consistent pressure despite favorable bowling conditions. They also missed several opportunities that could have changed the course of the innings.
Before lunch, John Campbell and Justin Greaves failed to take a straightforward catch after Udara edged Seales while batting on 55.
Later, Kamindu survived on 41 after UltraEdge indicated a faint edge that went unnoticed by both the players and match officials.
Despite those setbacks, the hosts stayed competitive and eventually broke the crucial third-wicket partnership. Wicketkeeper Shai Hope completed a sharp stumping after noticing Kamindu repeatedly leaving his crease.
Although West Indies finished the day with late breakthroughs, Sri Lanka will take confidence from Udara’s career-best innings and their strong first-day performance as they look to build a match-winning total.
