Windies 204 [J Holder 74 (123),L Kumara 4/58] & 93 [K Roach23*(37), (Kasun Rajitha 3-20)], Sri Lanka 154[ N Dickwella 42(72), J Holder 4/19] & 81/5 [( K Mendis 28(43), J Holder 5-41) ]
An unbeaten 63-run partnership between Kusal Perera and Dilruwan Perera got the Sri Lankan’s past the line on a tense day four. The Windies had half-chances, close calls, and a wicket in the first over of the day, but they could not grab a win.
Hometown hero Jason Holder clinched the man-of-the-match award for his 9/60, his best figures in a Test match and the second best figures by a Windies bowler against Sri Lanka, second only to Shannon Gabriel who picked 13 wickets in the previous match at Gros Islet.
The Windies skipper shook the Test match to life early on day four after picking up the wicket of Kusal Mendis in the first over of the day. The ball skidded off the wicket and kept low to trap Mendis in front.
From then on the Sri Lankans rode their luck, snatching tense singles near the in-field, scoring the occasional boundary and surviving the odd ball that bounced or kept low.
Kusal Perera, was cleared to play after he missed Sri Lanka’s innings on day three, and it was his knock that proved pivotal for the visitors. It was a much needed change for the opener after facing some red hot pace bowling with the new ball from the Windies all series, this time he got to face a comparatively softer ball, one that was 25 overs old.
At the other end, Dilruwan Perera was lucky to have stayed at the crease that long. He survived a few chances, two off Roach, one an edge that went wide of gully and the other marginally missing the stump after taking the inside edge.
The Windies bowlers attacked from the beginning of the day, bowling close to the stump in an attempt to get a wicket. This line was despite the home team fielding with a full slip cordon through the day, bowling wide could have cut the flow of runs and also forced the visitors to come after the ball.
The Windies will think hard about their batting performance in the second innings. They came out to bat with a 50-run lead on the board, but they could add only 93 runs to it, setting a target of 144 which the Sri Lankan’s were able to chase down with ease to become the first Asian team to win a Test match at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Jason Holder and stand-in captain Suranga Lakman shared the trophy after the series ended 1-1, Shane Dowrich was adjudged man-of-the-Series for fifties in each of the Test matches this series, including a century at Port of Spain.
The Windies will be in action next against Bangladesh who visit the Caribbean to play two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour kicks off on 4 July with the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.
Photo Credit - CWI Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography
