Sri Lanka need 94 more to beat West Indies in 1st Test

Sri Lanka need 94 more runs to beat West Indies in the opening Test of the Sri Lanka tour of West Indies 2026, with Nishan Madushka’s unbeaten 24 putting the visitors in control after another decisive all-round bowling effort led by Asitha Fernando. At stumps, Sri Lanka were 30/1 in 8 overs chasing 124, and a win here would give them a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series.

This tour has already produced swings across formats. Sri Lanka opened with a 41-run ODI win before the next two one-day internationals were washed out, then the T20I leg was split 2-1 in West Indies’ favour after wins by seven wickets and five wickets around Sri Lanka’s 37-run success. Now the Test section has begun with the first of three matches, and this contest remains live heading into the next day.

West Indies were bowled out for 205 in 61.4 overs in the first innings, with Kirk McKenzie making 58 and Keemo Paul adding 36. Kevin Wickham’s 20 was the only other contribution of note as Sri Lanka’s attack kept chipping away. Lahiru Kumara set the tone with 4 wickets, while Asitha Fernando claimed 2 and Sonal Dinusha added 1.

Sri Lanka responded strongly with 281 in 70.4 overs to take a valuable first-innings lead of 76. Dinesh Chandimal anchored the effort with 74, Nishan Madushka contributed 46, and Milan Rathnayaka’s 41 added further substance in the lower middle order. West Indies fought back through Nial Smith, who finished with 4 wickets, while Keemo Paul took 3 and Alzarri Joseph picked up 2.

That left the match finely balanced at the halfway stage, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers seized control again when West Indies slipped to 199 in 45.2 overs in the third innings. Joshua Bishop top-scored with 68 and Ackeem Auguste made 46, but the innings never escaped the grip of a disciplined attack. Asitha Fernando, Sonal Dinusha and Prabath Jayasuriya shared the damage with 3 wickets each, ensuring Sri Lanka were left a target of 124.

The chase has begun confidently enough despite an early setback. Alzarri Joseph struck the only blow so far, returning 1/22 from 4 overs, while Nial Smith kept things tight with 0/7 from 3 overs. But Sri Lanka closed on 30/1 from 8 overs, with Madushka unbeaten on 24 and Dinesh Chandimal on 2, leaving the visitors within touching distance of a significant away win.

If Sri Lanka finish the job, they will move 1-0 up and put real pressure on West Indies with two Tests still to come on June 25 and July 3. For now, the match has been extended into another day, and West Indies will need early wickets to drag themselves back into the contest.

Key performers: Dinesh Chandimal’s 74 and Nishan Madushka’s contributions of 46 in the first innings and an unbeaten 24 in the chase have given Sri Lanka the platform. For the ball, Asitha Fernando’s match-defining spells included 2 wickets in the first innings and 3 more in the second, while Sonal Dinusha also took 3 in West Indies’ second dig. For West Indies, Kirk McKenzie made 58 in the first innings and Joshua Bishop’s 68 kept them alive in the third.

NerdSports Stat: Across West Indies’ two innings, only two batters passed fifty — Kirk McKenzie with 58 and Joshua Bishop with 68 — while Sri Lanka’s attack produced two separate innings in which three bowlers took at least three wickets combined.

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