Sri Lanka edge ahead despite West Indies resistance in second Test

ANTIGUA: Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the second Test against West Indies after extending their lead to 142 runs at the close of play on day four at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, despite determined centuries from Justin Greaves and Shai Hope.

Resuming with Greaves and Hope well set after their superb stand on day three, West Indies continued to frustrate the visitors.

The pair steadily built on their partnership, with Hope bringing up his fifth Test century and first on home soil, while Greaves completed his third Test hundred.

However, Sri Lanka finally broke the marathon 242-run stand shortly before lunch in unusual fashion. Hope left a leg-side delivery, but after the wicketkeeper failed to gather the ball cleanly, it ricocheted off his gloves onto the stumps with Hope out of his crease, resulting in a bizarre dismissal.

Greaves carried on the fight alongside captain Roston Chase, but Sri Lanka's pace attack eventually took control. Asitha Fernando produced a hostile spell, dismissing Chase with a short ball before removing Anderson Phillip and Shamar Joseph to complete a five-wicket haul.

Milan Ratnayake also chipped in by dismissing Alzarri Joseph as West Indies were bowled out for 499, still 50 runs behind Sri Lanka's first-innings total. Greaves remained unbeaten on a magnificent 180.

West Indies struck back early in Sri Lanka's second innings as Shamar Joseph trapped Lahiru Udara lbw for a four-ball duck before Alzarri Joseph dismissed Nishan Madushka, reducing the visitors to 32/2.

Experienced batter Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis then steadied the innings with an unbroken 60-run partnership.

Chandimal closed unbeaten on 40 from 66 deliveries, while Kamindu's aggressive 30 not out from 35 balls, featuring three fours and a six, helped Sri Lanka reach 92/2 at stumps.