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Fast-bowler, Kemar Roach takes his 300th test wicket, leading the damage

Durrant Pate/Contributor 

West Indies destroyed Sri Lanka to take a 1-0 lead in the current two-test series in the Caribbean, bowling out the visitors in the second innings for a paltry 101, winning by an innings and 217 runs

During the second innings, Windies veteran fast bowler, Kemar Roach claimed his 300th test wicket taking 4-51 and with fellow seamers Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph combined to end Sri Lanka’s innings in only 31 overs, just after lunch on yesterday’s fourth day, as the West Indies claimed their sixth-largest win in tests at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Dinesh Chandimal, who made 43, was one of only two Sri Lanka batters to reach double figures. Sonal Dinusha finished on 12 not out. West Indies set up the win on the third day when middle order batsman, Amir Jangoo and captain, Roston Chase shared a world record 401-run sixth wicket partnership, which allowed the home side to declare at 626-9, with a first innings lead of 318.

Seamers took charge

The pitch had looked particularly placid on the third day but Roach, Seales and the two Josephs caused the ball to seam and swing yesterday. Roach, who came into the day with 296 test wickets, was almost unplayable though the Sri Lanka resistance was thin.

Sri Lankan Captain, Dhananjaya da Silva, who made 120 in Sri Lanka’s first innings of 308, was out for a seven-ball duck. The 37-year-old Roach bowled Asitha Fernando to claim his 300th wicket and leave Sri Lanka 84-9, as victory rapidly approached. 

He is the fifth West Indian after Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Lance Gibbs to reach the 300-wicket milestone. “It has been a long journey,” Roach said adding, “well done to the team and Roston Chase, who had his first win as captain and first win for Daren Sammy as coach.

The West Indies’ quicks left no doubt about the result when Sri Lanka limped to 81-6 at lunch. Resuming on 15-1, Sri Lanka lost both overnight batters in the space of four balls when Roach had Nishan Madushka pinned leg before wicket with his fourth ball and Jayden Seales found the leading edge of night-watchman, Kasun Rajitha with his first delivery from the other end.

Perfect bowling conditions

Shamar Joseph then used the favorable overcast bowling conditions to perfection when his impeccable swing undid Kamindu Mendis, who left a delivery that swung back enough to knock back the off stump. He then had first innings century-maker captain Dhananjaya de Silva trapped lbw for a seven-ball duck.

Alzarri Joseph continued to challenge the Sri Lankan middle-order with some sharp bowling and just before the players came off the field due to brief spell of rain the right-arm fast bowler hit the top of Kusal Mendis’ off stump as the batter tried to leave the ball.

The collapse continued apace after lunch. Chandimal fell in the second over after the break, caught at second slip from a sharp ball from Roach. Milan Rathanayake and Fernando perished for ducks and Seales wrapped up the match when he bowled the limping fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who suffered a hamstring strain on the second day.

West Indies had lost seven of its eight test matches in the World Test Championship but has now moved off the bottom of the points table. The second test begins at the same venue this Friday.