Lahiru Udara's mammoth ton gives SL opening day honours

Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 2026
by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sat, Jul 4, 2026 • 3:15 AM

Lahiru Udara staged a grand comeback to Test cricket by hammering a stunning 188 to help Sri Lanka bag the opening day honours in the second Test against West Indies in Antigua. Udara shared a double-century stand with Kamindu Mendis as Sri Lanka reached 338/5 at stumps on Day 1.

Sri Lanka, forced to make three changes to their XI due to injuries, opted to bat first. Nishan Madushka smashed the second ball of the game for a boundary to get things going. He didn't last long though as Shamar Joseph got rid of the opener before sending Dinesh Chandimal back to the pavilion just a few overs later. On both occasions, the batters hit ordinary deliveries straight to the fielder.

Udara and Kamindu had a rebuilding job to do but did not go into a shell. Udara looked in great touch, bringing up his fifty off just 59 balls. There was no stopping the run flow even after lunch as Sri Lanka slowly took control. Udara put away a waist-length full toss from Alzarri Joseph for a six to move into the 80s and eventually brought up a stunning century with his third six. The carnage continued as Udara hit his fourth six in the very next over and Kamindu followed with three boundaries.

This boundary-laden period pushed the run rate comfortably above five as West Indies desperately searched for a breakthrough. By the time it arrived, the pair had registered the highest partnership for any wicket by a Sri Lankan pair against West Indies. Kamindu lost his balance to a delivery down leg and Shai Hope pulled off a good stumping. While Kamindu missed his ton by 16 runs, Udara continued in the company of skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, who had already hammered a century in the first Test.

Dhananjaya and Udara piled on more misery with a 93-run partnership. Udara brought up his 150 with a boundary and looked set to add 50 more before stumps. A fifth six saw Sri Lanka breeze past 300 but just three balls before the second new ball was due, Udara top-edged to fall 12 short of a double ton. Two balls after taking the new ball, West Indies struck again with an outswinger from Seales taking the outside edge of the Sri Lankan skipper. With both set batters back in the pavilion just before stumps, West Indies will fancy their chances on the second day, but Sri Lanka already have 338 on the board.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 338/5 (Lahiru Udara 188, Kamindu Mendis 84; Shamar Joseph 2-60) vs West Indies