Stalemate in High-Scoring Test Match in West Indies

A pair of wickets in the final half hour play brought the West Indies back into the game, but prior to that it was Lahiru Udara who had led Sri Lanka‘s redemption arc as the opener fell 12 runs short of a maiden Test double-ton as day one of this second Test wound to a close at North Sound.

At 32 years of age, Udara has had to bide his time to make his way into the Test side, and it was just his luck that Sri Lanka’s Test schedule shrunk considerably just as he made his debut last June. Then in the Caribbean, he might not have got a look in, but an injury to Pathum Nissanka opened the door, and like Amir Jangoo in the first Test he took his chance with both hands.

Udara’s epic 188 off 248 all but ensured that the visitors ended the day in precisely the sort of commanding position they would have envisioned when they opted to bat – only partially sullied by those late strikes.

His innings came primarily across two major stands. The first was of the record-breaking variety, as Udara and Kamindu Mendis (84 off 120) struck 215 off just 255 deliveries. It was Sri Lanka’s highest-ever partnership in the Caribbean and very nearly their highest ever against West Indies in Tests. It also came after their side had stumbled to 25 for 2.

The second was less brisk but equally as important, as Dhananjaya de Silva joined Udara in the middle to stitch together a stand of 93 off 179. This one had come just as West Indies had begun to put together a much more disciplined display with the ball in the final session – efforts that had for large parts seemed destined to go without reward.

But the perseverance from the hosts belatedly paid off, first as a tiring Udara – he had received treatment earlier in the session on his lower back – top-edged to deep fine leg, before the other set batter, Dhananjaya, edged through to the slips after a gritty 33 off 90.

The latter wicket also brought about another cause for celebration for West Indies, as it meant that Jayden Seales reached 100 Test wickets, becoming the second-fastest West Indian bowler to do so in terms of deliveries bowled – Ian Bishop heads the list.

Seales’ and his team-mates’ jubilant celebrations were representative of catharsis, but also revealed the frustration that had been building up until that point, as Sri Lanka rode their luck but also pressed home the advantage for much of the game. They will however now feel they have restored some parity on a day that was largely dominated by the visitors.

The end of the day echoed its start, as Shamar Joseph dismissed Nishan Madushka and Dinesh Chandimal inside the first hour of play. Both were soft dismissals, as Madushka cut one straight to point before Chandimal flicked right into the hands of square leg.

The decision to bat first on a track that had a fair covering of grass and green tinge to it – and one Roston Chase was delighted to be bowling first on – was certainly a surprise, and such a start was far from what Sri Lanka would have been hoping for.

But even in the face of those dismissals, Udara had been quietly going about his work – a methodology that would rarely change across his near day-long stay in the middle. His compact technique and patience helped navigate the early movement on offer, but it was his ability to punish the poor deliveries that helped Sri Lanka grow into the game.

Once he got his eye in he was able to manoeuvre the ball comfortably, while also punishing any errors in line and length. There were a handful of loose swings outside off, but for the most part he profited whenever he sought to take on the wide ball.

Interspersed with watchful leaves were some increasingly impressive boundaries square and backward of square on the off side. As the game wore on, he became more expansive – ending the innings with four sixes, the best of those maximums coming off a quite sumptuous pull off Alzarri Joseph over backward square leg, though is lofted drive over point also deserves a mention.

It was ironic that Udara’s least in-control shot – a top-edged six over fine leg – brought up his maiden test ton. And then two deliveries later he followed it up by offering up that leading edge that seemed to hang in the air for eternity.

If those moments seemed out of place, it was because he had looked so assured for large parts of his innings. Whether it was negotiating outswingers outside off with deft stabs and dabs behind and through point, or in punishing errors in lines and length. A control percentage hovering around 90 as he reached his century attested to this.

West Indies for their part struggled to build any sort of concerted pressure with their lines and lengths, and you could argue they missed the calming metronome of Kemar Roach, who missed the game through injury.

In his absence in came Anderson Phillip, who struggled in particular to execute his plans, going for 52 across his 10 overs – the most expensive of the West Indian options. The others meanwhile, were at times guilty of lacking patience, trying to often for the glory ball – and in turn offering the Lankan batters frequent opportunities to release any pressure being built.

This was particularly prevalent in a 10-over period either side of the lunch break, when at one point Sri Lanka were going at 7.5 an over. Their overall run rate, meanwhile, was touching five and it was only in the final session that the hosts were able to reel in proceedings.

The zenith of Sri Lanka’s day occurred across a wicketless second session, one which ended with Sri Lanka on 224 for 2. At that point you would not have blamed West Indies for fearing the worst, with morale dipping after several missed opportunities.

The first fell in the final over before lunch when Seales got one to rear from back of a length as Udara fended it off the shoulder of his blade. But what should have been a regulation take by either first of second slip, saw both men – John Campbell and Justin Greaves – second guess who should go for it, as the ball slipped between both and ran away for four. Seales was audibly irate. Udara was on 55 at the time.

The second came after the lunch break when Kamindu slashed at a wide, full delivery outside off. Play moved on quickly afterwards with not even a hint of an appeal, but replays shortly after showed that their had been a spike in Ultra Edge as the ball passed the bat. Kamindu was on 41, Sri Lanka 143 for 2.

But to West Indies’ credit they kept their energy levels high in the face of an evergrowing stand. The breakthrough too came as a result of some proactive enterprise. Having spotted that Kamindu was increasingly coming out of his crease, Shai Hope came up to the wicket. Greaves bowled one down leg that saw him overbalance and briefly fall over – it was only a split second that he raised his back foot before springing is front foot back over the crease, but Hope was lightning with his glove work as he whipped off the bails and broke the partnership.

From that point on West Indies – with Chase operating from one end to help boost their flagging over rate – did what they ought to have done all day, kept things tight. Dhananjaya and Udara too showed patience in this period, but will be disappointed in themselves that they weren’t able to last till the end of play.