Lahiru Udara 188 carries the fight for Sri Lanka

Lahiru Udara 188 carries the fight for Sri Lanka

The West Indies staged a brief fight back with two wickets in the final half hour, but Sri Lanka's Lahiru Udara showcased remarkable resilience as he scored 188 runs, just 12 short of a maiden Test double-century, on Day 1 of the second Test at North Sound. Sri Lanka concluded the day at 338 for 5, with Udara's innings contributing significantly to their strong position despite the late strikes from the West Indies.

At 32 years of age, Udara had finally found his place in the Test team following an injury to Pathum Nissanka, which opened the door for him. He capitalised on this opportunity spectacularly, putting Sri Lanka in a commanding spot with his 188 off 248 balls.

Udara's innings included a record-breaking partnership of 215 runs with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 84 off 120 balls, marking Sri Lanka's highest partnership in the Caribbean and their second-highest against the West Indies in Tests. This partnership was crucial as it came after Sri Lanka was struggling at 25 for 2.

After these initial setbacks, Sri Lanka found further stability through a partnership of 93 runs with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 33 off 90 balls. The West Indies tightened their bowling in the final session, eventually reaping rewards as they dismissed a fatigued Udara and Dhananjaya.

The wickets sparked celebrations for the West Indies, particularly for bowler Jayden Seales, who achieved his 100th Test wicket, making him the second-fastest West Indian to reach this milestone in terms of deliveries bowled.

Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first on a greenish pitch was initially questionable after losing quick early wickets. However, Udara's measured approach and skillful shot selection helped the visitors recover and dominate much of the day's play.

Despite their positive position, Sri Lanka faced a challenging end to the day as Shamar Joseph dismissed Nishan Madushka and Dinesh Chandimal within the first hour. The team's batting strategies will certainly need to adapt as they continue their innings, especially after conceding those late wickets.