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Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st Test Full Commentary
Result · Jun 25 2026, Thu - 07:30 PM (IST)
SL 308/10, 101/10 (31.2)
WI 626/9 (160.5)
West Indies beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs
CRR:3.22
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We are back for the Windies' reply with the bat! With just five minutes left in the play, the players come out to take over the ground. Sri Lanka would be hoping to find an opening breakthrough today itself, which will set the tone perfectly. Asitha Fernando has the new ball in hand. John Campbell and Brandon King will be opening for West Indies. Let's play...
... SECOND INNINGS ...
Formidable total on the board - The tail did their bit too, with the lower order chipping in to help Sri Lanka post a respectable 308 all out in 71.5 overs. Justin Greaves was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 39 runs in 11 overs, while Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph took 2 wickets apiece, with Jayden Seales chipping in for one. It's a total that gives Sri Lanka something to defend, but West Indies will fancy their chances of posting a strong reply on what looks like a decent batting surface. The home side head into their innings knowing that a sizeable first-innings lead could be decisive in this Test. Stick around with us as the second inning will commence shortly.
The masterclass of the Lankan skipper - Sri Lanka's innings was a tale of early wobbles and a stunning middle-order rescue. They were rocked early, losing Nissanka in the first over and then collapsing to 42 for 3 after Kamindu Mendis departed for a first-ball duck. Dinesh Chandimal steadied the ship with a composed 54, but once he fell, Kusal Mendis followed for a four-ball duck and Sri Lanka were in real trouble at 110 for 5. That's when Dhananjaya de Silva stepped up to play the innings of the day, a magnificent 120 off 168 balls, holding the batting together with patience and class, sharing crucial partnerships with Sonal Dinusha, who also contributed a crucial 43 runs and Milan Rathnayake.
OUT! TAKEN! Jayden Seales at last gets his first wicket and bundles out Sri Lanka for 308. Full-length delivery, on middle. Asitha Fernando makes room and looks to punch it downtown. The idea is not wrong, but he ends up connecting the shot from the toe end of the bat. The ball loops up toward long on. Alzarri Joseph runs back from the mid on region and pouches the catch safely into his hands.
Beaten! Good-length delivery, just outside off, Asitha Fernando looks to defend, but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Full, outside off, Lahiru Kumara punches it to long off for one.
FOUR! These are very crucial runs for Sri Lanka! Good-length delivery, on off, Lahiru Kumara clears his front foot to bring out his wild swing. The ball catches slightly to the upper part of his bat, but it's enough to clear the mid on fielder for four runs.
Short, outside off, Lahiru Kumara ducks under it.
Back of a length, wide outside off, Asitha Fernando makes a leave at it.
Asitha Fernando is the last man in.
OUT! CAUGHT! Make it three for Justin Greaves. Angling in sharply, fuller in length, on middle. Kasun Rajitha looks to flick it hard, but catches the leading edge, before the ball loops to the long on region, where Kemar Roach runs forward from the boundary line to get underneath the skier and reverse scoop the catch in the front of his face.
Back of a length, outside off, Kasun Rajitha tries to punch it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Full, on off, Kasun Rajitha drives it back to the bowler.
Back of a length, outside off, Lahiru Kumara cuts it over slip corridor and gets a single.
On a length, going down the leg side, Lahiru Kumara misses his flick.
Interesting, we all thought in the last delivery, Kasun Rajitha would take a single so that he could face the next over. But instead of that, they took a brace. Does this mean that Sri Lanka might go all guns blazing just before the end of the Day?
Good-length delivery, on off, Kasun Rajitha drives it wide of the point fielder and gets a couple of runs.
300 up for Sri Lanka! Fuller, angling in, on middle and leg. Lahiru Kumara heaves it from the inner half of his bat to deep square leg for one.
FOUR BYES! Back of a length, down the leg side, Lahiru Kumara looks to help it away, but the ball swings away to beat everyone and races away to deep fine leg for four runs.
FOUR! Up and over! Back of a length, just outside off, Lahiru Kumara opens the face of the bat and guides it over the slip corridor for four runs.
NO BALL! Back of a length, just outside off, Lahiru Kumara steers it to third slip. However, Shamar Joseph has overstepped and the umpire calls it a No Ball.
Right into the blockhole, on middle, Lahiru Kumara digs it back to the bowler.
Back of a length, on leg, Kasun Rajitha tucks it to wide of short fine leg for one.
Bangs a bouncer, on off, Lahiru Kumara arches back and makes way for the delivery to travel to the keeper.
Full, just outside off, Kasun Rajitha drives it to the left of the extra cover fielder for one.
Angling in, just outside off, fuller in length. Lahiru Kumara drills it with an angle bat toward mid on. The fielder in the region does well to dive to his right and makes a half save. Single taken.
On a length, outside off, Lahiru Kumara lets it be.
Full, outside off, Lahiru Kumara pushes it to cover for one.
Lahiru Kumara walks up to the middle.
We are back for the third innings! Pathum Nissanka and Nishan Madushka walks out to open the innings for the second time. Kemar Roach has the new ball in hand with three slips in place. Let's play...
... THIRD INNINGS ...
Enough to win? With the record books rewritten and the good lead, they stepped up to provide the finishing touches. The West Indies finally called time on their marathon innings, declaring at a mammoth 626 runs. With a colossal first-innings lead of 318 runs, the hosts are firmly in the driver's seat as we head into the innings break.
The stand that changed the game - The afternoon session belonged entirely to the history books. Jangoo and Chase continued their relentless march, utterly deflating the Sri Lankan bowling attack and extending the team's total to 492/5 by Tea. The epic stand finally came to an end in the final session when Jangoo fell for a spectacular 233 runs. The duo put together a colossal 401-run partnership, officially breaking the record for the highest-ever 6th-wicket partnership in the history of Test cricket! After the wicket, Sonal Dinusha manages to find the dismissal of Roston Chase, just six runs short of a double-century, and Milan Rathnayaka steps up to clean off the rest.
The great rescue mission - What followed was a pure masterclass in Test match batting. Amir Jangoo found a rock-solid ally in Roston Chase, and the duo completely turned the game on its head. They safely negotiated the final session of Day 2, guiding the Windies to 271/5. There was no stopping them on Day 3 either. They batted through the entire morning session without losing a single wicket, wiping out the deficit and pushing the score to 356/5 by lunch, firmly wrestling the momentum back from the visitors.
Early wobble on Day 2 - West Indies have declared their innings with just around 30 minutes left till the end of the day, ending their innings with a score of 626 runs for 9 wickets and with a lead of 318 runs. Milan Rathnayaka as well walked off the field with the ball in hand for getting the five-fer, with his best Test cricket figures, 15.3-8-124-5. But if you ask us about the start of the inning, the Windies didn't have it all their own way at the start of this innings. After bowling out Sri Lanka for 308, the Windies' top order showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to build massive partnerships. Brandon King made a steady 31, while John Campbell and Kavem Hodge fell in quick succession. Just as Amir Jangoo and Joshua Da Silva started grinding things out, Fernando struck a lethal blow right at the stroke of Tea on Day 2, dismissing Justin Greaves and leaving the hosts reeling at a shaky 168/5.
OUT! LBW! Milan Rathnayaka gets his FIVE-FER. This is a good length delivery, pitching it on off and angling in. Kemar Roach looks to flick it but misses and gets thumped on the front pad. Appeal goes round and up goes the finger of the umpire. Roach takes a review instantly, indicating there's a nick on the bat, but when the UltraEdge pops up, it shows nothing but just a flat line. The Ball Tracking shows three runs and the on-field decision stands on. Just after the wicket, the skipper Roston Chase indicates their batters to walk off the field to declare the inning.
Back of a length, around off, Kemar Roach leaves it alone.
On a length, outside off, Kemar Roach shoulders arms at it.
Short, around off, Shamar Joseph pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.
Back of a length, outside off, Shamar Joseph goes for a wild swing but misses.
Chase departs just six runs away from his double-century. Kemar Roach is the new man in.
OUT! DRAGGED ON! Sonal Dinusha gets a crucial wicket here and denies Roston Chase from getting to his first double century. Dinusha comes around the wicket and bowls fuller, on middle and leg, angling in. Roston Chase crouches down to sweep it away, but ends up connecting it from the inner part of his bat. The ball bounces on the pitch and just touches the leg stump, enough to knock the bails off. West Indies lead by 317.
Full, around off, Shamar Joseph mistimes his sweep to deep square leg for one.
Full, around off, Shamar Joseph pushes it to cover.
FOUR! Just over the fielder. Fuller, outside off, Shamar Joseph drills it uppishly with an angled bat toward mid off. The fielder in the region takes a leave and tries to grab it one-handedly, but fails. The ball races away for four runs.
Oh, that one stays pretty low! Short and well outside off. Shamar Joseph tries to slap it away, but the ball skids through after pitching and misses the inside edge with a large gap.
Short, on off, Roston Chase clips it to deep square leg for one.
Back of a length, angling across the left-hander. Shamar Joseph looks to cut it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Back of a length, around the hips of the batter, Roston Chase pulls it to deep square leg for a single.
Full, outside off, Shamar Joseph swats it from the toe end of his bat to long on for a single.
On the hard length, angling in, sharply, over middle. Shamar Joseph looks to flick it late, but misses and wears on the back thigh pad.
Back of a length, down the leg side, Roston Chase pulls it to deep fine leg for one.
Short of a length, spraying down the leg side. Roston Chase leaves it away.
Asitha Fernando (27-8-53-2) rejoins the attack.
Tossed up, fuller, on middle. Shamar Joseph defends it down.
Full, on off, Roston Chase pushes it to deep cover for one.
FOUR! Exceptional placement! Full-length delivery, on off. Roston Chase lunges and sweeps it through short fine leg for four runs.
Full, outside off, Shamar Joseph flicks it to square leg for one.
SIX! This has gone miles away! Fuller in length, offering a bit of flight, just outside off and turns it in. Shamar Joseph gets down on one knee and sweeps it up and over the deep mid-wicket fence for a massive six.
See you for the second Test - That wraps up our coverage of an absolute clinical opening Test match, with the West Indies holding a 1-0 series lead. But the cricket keeps coming, folks. The battle resumes for the crucial Second Test this coming Friday, July 3rd, with the first ball scheduled for 2 pm GMT. Make sure to tune in early as we bring you all the pre-match build-up, pitch reports, and team news before the action gets underway. Sri Lanka will be desperate to fight back, while the Windies will look to seal the series, so you won't want to miss a single delivery. Until then, thank you for your company throughout these four days. Take care, and cheers!
The skipper of West Indies - Roston Chase says that he is happy to win as the captain of the team. He reckons that it is a dream come true for him. He further says that Amir Jangoo's double hundred and Kemar Roach getting the 300 Test wickets satisfied him a lot. He adds that the important thing in the Test is to stay patient and not get overconfident. He ends by saying that the wicket had a lot for the bowlers, and they have quality pacers on their side.
The captain of Sri Lanka - Dhananjaya de Silva says that in the first innings, they had enough runs, but Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase took the game away from them. He adds that it was difficult to bat in the second innings as the ball kept low. Also, they were good for the first two days, but one injury took the game away from them. He reckons that Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase were sensational, and he ends by saying that he is happy with his century, but the result didn't go their way.
Player of the Match - Amir Jangoo is the Player of the Match for his knock of 233 runs in 373 balls. He starts off saying that he is feeling really great, not only because he got his double century, but also because they got the crucial win. About the most satisfying thing about this Test match, he says that the win was the one thing, and he is pleased that they got it, as it was very important for the WC title. About his mindset, he says that he is always ready to perform for his team as he filled in the spot of injured Shai Hope. Ends up saying that he is always disciplined and serious with his profession, and he is happy that he could contribute something to the team.
Presentations coming up...
300 Test wickets for Kemar Roach - Kemar Roach receives a jersey numbered 300 for reaching that milestone. He says that he is very happy to achieve the milestone. He gives the credit to all his teammates, but he especially calls out Denis Byam's name, their physiotherapist, who had countless discussions with Roach as he just got back from an injury. He then says that his mother would be watching him on the television and would be super proud, and so would his kids. On being asked about his future plans, he says that he would like to enjoy this moment and throw a party for his teammates and then keep on grinding as he does regularly.
Windies reign supreme - The post-lunch session was a mere formality. Roach returned immediately to dismiss the lone warrior Chandimal for 43, and the tail folded meekly shortly after, courtesy of Kemar Roach. He ended up with 4 wickets in that innings. Also, Kemar Roach completed 300 test wickets for the West Indies, and he became the fifth West Indies bowler to reach that milestone. It was a complete performance from the Windies, ruthless with the bat and relentless with the ball. The visitors will have plenty of searching questions to answer before the next game, but tonight, the Caribbean side celebrates a thoroughly deserved and emphatic victory.
The Pace strikes - Trailing by a mountain of 318 runs, Sri Lanka’s second innings quickly turned into a nightmare under the intense pressure of the Caribbean pace attack. Kemar Roach set the tone early on Day 4, while Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph ripped through the top order, leaving the visitors reeling at 81 for 6 by lunch. Dinesh Chandimal showed grit and fought hard, but he lacked any substantial support from the other end.
The Jangoo and Chase show - When West Indies came out to bat, they completely took the game away from the visitors. Amir Jangoo played a career-defining knock, first getting his maiden half-century in Test cricket and then converting it to his maiden century before putting up a spectacular 233. Jangoo found a perfect partner in skipper Roston Chase, who fell agonizingly short of his own double-ton on 194. Together, they piled on the agony, driving the Windies to a mammoth 626 for 9 declared, despite a fighting five-wicket haul from Sri Lanka's Milan Rathnayake.
First Innings spark - The match began with a good touch as Sri Lanka registered a big score on Day 1. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva led from the front with a brilliant 120, well-supported by Dinesh Chandimal’s gritty 54. However, Justin Greaves’ 3 for 39 helped bundle the visitors out for 308. Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, and Shamar Joseph picked up two wickets each in that innings. It was a respectable score by Sri Lanka, but one that would soon prove to be vastly inadequate.
A comprehensive win for the Windies - It’s all over. A truly dominant performance from the West Indies as they wrap up a massive victory by an innings and 217 runs. Sri Lanka’s resistance completely evaporated in the second session of Day 4, with the final wickets tumbling in quick succession. The hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series, laying down a serious marker with a clinical, all-round display.
OUT! CASTLED! That will be like hammering the final nail on the coffin. Jayden Seales has done the last part for bagging his third wicket of the innings and with that, West Indies beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs. Seales fires it fuller, pitching it just outside off and angling in sharply. Lahiru Kumara makes a bit room and clears his front foot to swat it across the line, but misses the shot completely. The ball misses the inside edge with a huge gap and hits the leg stump.
Short, just outside off, Lahiru Kumara makes room to lash hard at it, but gets beaten.
FOUR! More runs. Short of a length, outside off, Sonal Dinusha camps back, extends his arms and crunches a cut shot, through cover-point for another boundary. That will bring up 100 for Sri Lanka.
FOUR! It doesn't come off the middle of the bat, but it will work for Dinusha. Short of a length, on off, shaping in. Sonal Dinusha pulls at it, but gets the connection from the upper part of the bat, before the ball bounces off toward deep fine leg for four runs.
Right into the blockhole, on off, Sonal Dinusha blocks it to cover.
Pitches it up, does Roach, swinging it away from the batter, pitching it just outside off. Sonal Dinusha lunges to cover the stump and shoulder arms at it.
On a good length, outside off, Sonal Dinusha leaves it alone.
Short, over off, Lahiru Kumara swings it bat, gets a top edge, before the ball bounces off toward deep fine leg. Single taken.
Back of a length, Sonal Dinusha dead bats it down. Jayden Seales while his follow-through, collects the ball and gives a fake throw at the batter's end, despite Sonal Dinusha being in the crease. Seales walks up and has a few words to the batter. Lahiru Kumara doesn't like the attitude of the bowler and complains the umpire.
Swing and a miss! Bangs the length hard, does Seales, on off, shaping in. Sonal Dinusha hangs on his back foot to pull it away, but just misses the connection on the top edge.
Full, on middle and leg, Sonal Dinusha nudges it to short mid-wicket.
Slanting in, around the pads, fuller in length. Sonal Dinusha flicks it to deep backward square leg. Denies the single.
A touch fuller, just outside off, Sonal Dinusha defends it to cover.
Good-length delivery, outside off, Sonal Dinusha looks to fend it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Full, on middle, Lahiru Kumara blocks it on his front foot.
FOUR! Downtown this time! A touch fuller, shaping in, on middle and leg. Lahiru Kumara clears his front foot and punches it toward the left of the bowler. The ball races away toward long on for four runs.
FOUR! Well played! Pitches it up, does Roach, around the pads of the batter. Lahiru Kumara clips it through the vacant square leg region and gets the four runs to get off the mark.
Low full toss, just outside off, Lahiru Kumara pushes it to point.
Lahiru Kumara is the last batter in.