Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test Stats Review: Dhananjaya de Silva, Lasith Embuldeniya accomplish feats as hosts record emphatic win

Dhananjaya de Silva and spin duo of Lasith Emduldeniya and Ramesh Mendis were too hot to handle for West Indies as they suffered a 164-run defeat in the second Test at Galle, losing the series 2-0. Batting first, the Lankan Lions scored 204 as West Indies spinners took all ten wickets among them. In reply, the Caribbean team gained a 49-run lead as they posted 253 thanks to their consistent performer in Tests, Kraigg Brathwaite who scored 72. Even the Sri Lankan spinners also joined the party and took all the ten wickets of the West Indies batters.

Dhananjaya de Silva was the star of Sri Lanka’s second innings as he notched up his eighth Test ton and also achieved his third-highest score of 155*. Chasing a stiff target of 296, West Indies were bowled out for a paltry 132 as Sri Lanka’s spin combo of Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis wreaked havoc by taking five wickets each. 36 wickets were taken by the spinners in this Test with 38 being the highest in a Test in Sri Lanka. Nkrumah Bonner (44) and Jermaine Blackwood (36) did show some fight but it was not enough for them to avoid series loss.

While Dhananjaya de Silva was declared the Player of the Match, Ramesh Mendis was adjudged Player of the Series, for taking 18 scalps in two Tests. West Indies are still winless in their Test history in Sri Lanka. They have also lost nine and won just three out of their last 14 Tests. After getting blanked 2-0 from England at the start of this year at home, Sri Lanka has managed to win two back-to-back series now against Bangladesh and West Indies.

Meanwhile, here are the important stats and numbers from Sri Lanka vs West Indies second Test:

155 – Dhananjaya de Silva recorded his third-highest score in Tests. Both of his top two scores of 173 and 166 came against Bangladesh in 2018 and 2021 respectively.

4 – Dhananjaya de Silva recorded the fourth-highest score by a Sri Lankan batter against West Indies in Tests. Hashan Tilakaratne (204*) in 2001, Dimuth Karunaratne (186) in 2015 and Kumar Sangakkara (157*) in 2005 are above him.

36 – Spinners took 36 wickets in this game, second-most in a Test match on Sri Lankan soil. 38 scalps were recorded by spinners when the Lankan Lions played  England in 2018.

1482 – Kraigg Brathwaite has scored 1482 runs in Tests since 2018. He tops the list for West Indies in this period with Jason Holder (1259) being on the second place.

5 – Fifth 50 plus score for Kraigg Braithwaite in Tests this year. He is on top for West Indies while Nkrumah Bonner is next on the list with four fifty-plus scores.

10 – Tenth 50 plus score for Kraigg Brathwaite in Tests since 2018. Behind him are Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Shane Dorwich and Jason Holder all scoring six 50 plus scores each.

2 – Pathum Nissanka scored twin fifties in this Test. Only two other batters, Mahela Jayawardene in 2010 and Lahiru Thirimanne in 2021, scored fifties in both innings of a Test against West Indies.

26 – Ramesh Mendis has now taken 26 wickets in his first four matches. Among Sri Lankans, only Ajantha Mendis (33) has taken more wickets than him after 4 Tests.

0 – West Indies remain winless in the island nation. They have played Sri Lanka 13 times in Sri Lanka losing nine of them and four matches were drawn.

9 – Ninth loss for West Indies in their last 14 Tests. They managed to draw two Tests and won thrice with two victories coming against Bangladesh.

530 – Dhananjaya de Silva has scored 530 runs in Tests this year, third-most by a Sri Lankan. He is behind captain Dimuth Karunaratne (902) and Lahiru Thirimanne (659) for most runs in 2021.

32 – Lasith Embuldeniya has accumulated 32 scalps in Tests in 2021. He is third behind India’s spin duo of R Ashwin (44) and Axar Patel (33) for most wickets by spinners this year.

28 – Lasith  Embuldeniya has taken 28 wickets in Tests at home this year. He is equaled with England’s Ollie Robinson (28) with India’s R Ashwin (38) and Axar Patel (33) ahead of them.