The fighting efforts from Kusal Mendis set up an interesting final day for Sri Lanka against West Indies in the first Test in Trinidad. However, the Sri Lankan team couldn’t capitalize on the advantage.

Apart from Mendis’s knock, Sri Lanka showcased the same poor performance that had forced them to take a back seat in the first innings.

In reply to the Windies’ 414/8 in the first innings, the visitors were bundled out for a poultry total of 185 runs. The Caribbean side didn’t enforce a follow-on and added to the Lankans’ woes by setting up a daunting target of 453 runs in the second innings.

The team led by Jason Holder declared their second innings after scoring 223 runs and losing seven wickets in the process.

Including a 102-run innings from Mendis, Sri Lanka managed to total only 226 runs. Despite a stellar performance from the right-handed opener, none of the batters from the Lankan team were able to provide the kind of support Shane Dorwich, the only other centurion, had gotten from his fellow batsmen to help West Indies get good grip over the clash in the first innings.

On day-5, the Chandimal-led men had seemed to be on track for a draw until Roston and Bishoo teamed up greatly to scalp the last five wickets of Sri Lanka in just 25 balls.

Seven of the fifteen wickets of the hosts were bagged by Lahiru Kumara. On the other hand, each of Shannon Gabriel, Devendra Bishoo, and Roston Chase got four wickets to their names in the clash and their team effort outclassed the islanders' wobbly batting performance.

West Indies are now leading the series 1-0 and still have two chances ahead to seal the series. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will also try to mount a comeback in the rmaining games by putting up a better batting display.

 

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