WI vs SL: Five most memorable Test matches between Sri Lanka and West Indies
The Sri Lankan team is currently on the West Indies tour where they have lost both the T20I and ODI series. They were defeated by the hosts by 2-1 in the 20-over format and got decimated by 3-0 in the 50-over format. Both teams will now clash in a 2-match Test series starting 21st March. West Indies will be led by new captain Kraigg Brathwaite replacing Jason Holder. Braithwaite captained the side in their series victory in the Test series on the Bangladesh tour. Sri Lanka would want to win a series at least in one of the formats in this tour. There have been many memorable Test matches played between both teams, and we are going to revisit 5 of those games in this article.
5. West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2015 – 2nd Test
In the second Test of this series, Sri Lanka got all out for 200 runs in their first innings, and in response to this, the West Indies team could manage only 163 runs. In the second innings, Sri Lanka scored 206 runs setting a target of 244 runs for the West Indies in the fourth innings. The visitors had scored 80/1 in a chase at one stage and it looked like they would give a tough fight. However, their innings ended on the innings total of 171 runs meant they lost the game by 72 runs.
4. West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2010 – 1st Test
This match is still fresh in the memories of cricket fans because of the magnificent knock played by Chris Gayle. The explosive batsman smashed 333 runs off 437 runs including 34 fours and 9 sixes. West Indies posted 580/9 in their first innings and bundled out Sri Lanka for 378 runs. The hosts were asked to follow on, and they managed a draw with a score of 241/4 in their second innings.
3. Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 2003 – 2nd Test
This match tilted like a sea-saw for all five days as both teams gave tough competition to each other. In the first innings, Sri Lanka scored 208 runs in response to which West Indies got all out for 191 runs. In the second innings, Sri Lanka put up a total of 194 runs setting a target of 212 runs in the fourth innings. The hosts won this match as they chased down the target in 42.4 overs on the back of a superb knock from Brian Lara who scored 80 runs off 90 balls.
2. Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 2008 – 2nd Test
West Indies had to chase a challenging total of 253 runs in the fourth innings of this match, and they successfully won the Test with the help of a wonderful century from Ramnaresh Sarwan. Earlier in the first innings, the West Indies scored 294 runs in response to Sri Lanka’s total of 278 runs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul also played a crucial part in the victory scoring 86 runs off 146 balls in the chase.
1. Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 1997 – 2nd Test
This test match played in Kingston went to the wire on the last day. West Indies had set a target of 269 runs in the fourth innings for the visitors who kept losing wickets at regular intervals. All three results were possible in this match until last. The Sri Lankan innings eventually ended at a score of 233/8 meaning the match resulted in a draw. Earlier in the first innings, West Indies conceded a lead of 75 runs to the visitors but made a strong comeback in the second innings by scoring 343 runs with the help of a glorious century by Brian Lara.
