The result handed the Caribbean side their first home Test series win in four years and their first Test series triumph since 2023, marking an important moment for a team that has struggled for consistency in the longer format in recent seasons.

Having crushed Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs in the opening Test, West Indies entered the final day of the second match in a commanding position. Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on 92/2 and adopted an aggressive approach in an attempt to force a result.

The visitors scored quickly during the morning session, adding runs at a brisk pace despite losing wickets regularly. Dinesh Chandimal led the charge with a fluent 71, while Kamindu Mendis also played positively as Sri Lanka pushed their total to 251/9 before declaring.

The declaration left West Indies with a target of 302 runs and limited time to chase victory.

Sri Lanka’s intent was evident throughout the opening session of the day. The visitors added 139 runs in 24 overs, but their attacking strategy also resulted in six wickets falling. Kamindu Mendis was dismissed by Jayden Seales, while captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Chandimal and Kusal Mendis all departed after getting starts. Sonal Dinusha was run out while attempting a second run.

With the match moving towards a draw, the focus shifted to how West Indies would respond to the target.

Openers John Campbell and Brandon King ensured there would be no late drama. The pair negotiated the Sri Lankan pace attack comfortably and handled left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya with patience. Their disciplined approach denied Sri Lanka any breakthrough during the chase.

By the tea interval, West Indies had moved to 65 without loss.

A brief rain interruption in the final session halted play for around 10 minutes, but conditions improved quickly enough for the match to resume. When play restarted, the hosts had advanced to 109 without losing a wicket.

With neither side in a realistic position to force a result, the captains eventually agreed to shake hands and settle for a draw, confirming West Indies as series winners.

Brandon King survived two significant LBW appeals during his innings. On the first occasion, a review showed the ball was passing over the stumps. The second appeal was turned down on umpire’s call, allowing the opener to continue his unbeaten stay at the crease.

While the second Test ended without a winner, the series belonged firmly to West Indies, largely due to their dominant display in the opening match and several standout individual performances.

Justin Greaves emerged as the leading figure of the series. The all-rounder was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series after contributing a crucial 180 runs in West Indies’ first innings and also claiming a wicket. Across the series, Greaves scored 183 runs and picked up four wickets, underlining his growing importance to the team.

The series victory offers a timely boost for West Indies cricket as the team looks to rebuild its standing in Test cricket. Winning at home has been a challenge in recent years, and the result against Sri Lanka provides encouragement ahead of future assignments.

For Sri Lanka, the drawn Test showed resilience after the heavy defeat in the opener, but the visitors leave the Caribbean without a series win despite producing several competitive individual performances during the second match.

At stumps, Sri Lanka were 92 for 2 in their second innings, with Dinesh Chandimal unbeaten on 40 and Kamindu Mendis batting on 30. The pair added an unbroken 60-run stand for the third wicket after the hosts lost two early wickets.

The match appeared evenly poised when West Indies resumed their first innings and mounted a strong recovery through Hope and Greaves. The duo stitched together a crucial 242-run partnership for the fifth wicket, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowling attack for much of the opening session.

Hope reached his fifth Test century and his first on home soil, bringing up the landmark in 198 deliveries. At the other end, Greaves continued his impressive run in red-ball cricket, registering his third Test hundred after facing 201 balls.

Their partnership not only rescued West Indies from a difficult position but also narrowed Sri Lanka's first-innings advantage significantly. For a period, the visitors looked capable of pushing for a lead.

However, the momentum shifted shortly before lunch when Sonal Dinusha dismissed Hope via stumping. The breakthrough opened the door for Sri Lanka, who quickly regained control of the contest.

Greaves carried on and produced one of the finest innings of his Test career. The right-hander remained at the crease for 325 deliveries and scored 180 runs before eventually falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. His knock formed the backbone of the West Indies total of 499.

Sri Lanka's bowlers wrapped up the innings soon after. Asitha Fernando was the standout performer, claiming a five-wicket haul and completing the third five-for of his Test career. He removed key batters including Roston Chase, Anderson Phillip and Shamar Joseph during a decisive spell.

Milan Rathnayake accounted for Alzarri Joseph to bring the innings to a close, ensuring Sri Lanka carried a 50-run first-innings lead into the final phase of the match.

The hosts, however, suffered an early setback in their second innings when first-innings centurion Lahiru Udara was trapped leg-before wicket by Shamar Joseph without opening his account. Nishan Madushka and Chandimal attempted to steady the innings, but Madushka departed for 15 after edging Alzarri Joseph to John Campbell at first slip.

With Sri Lanka reduced to 32 for 2, Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis took charge. The pair batted positively and scored at more than four runs an over, denying West Indies any further breakthroughs during the remainder of the day.

Their partnership has placed Sri Lanka in a strong position heading into the fifth and final day. While a lead of 142 runs is far from decisive on its own, the hosts still have eight wickets in hand and an opportunity to stretch the target beyond West Indies' reach.

For the visitors, early wickets on the final morning will be critical. West Indies have already shown through the Hope-Greaves stand that they can fight back from difficult situations, but they will need a disciplined bowling effort to keep the chase within manageable limits.

With both teams still eyeing victory, the final day promises an intriguing finish. Sri Lanka hold the advantage, but the match remains open enough for another twist before the last wicket falls.