The West Indies cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 217 runs within four days in the opening Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach became the fifth West Indian player and the fourth regional fast bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, finishing with second-innings figures of 4 for 51 as Sri Lanka collapsed for 101 runs.
The victory gave captain Roston Chase and Head Coach Daren Sammy their first career wins in their respective leadership roles, ahead of the second Test match scheduled at the same venue from July 3 to July 7, 2026.
An emotional Roach reflected on achieving his milestone after playing his 89th Test match since his debut in 2009.
"All the people supporting me over the years, I'm glad to make them all proud in some way.
But for me right now, I just want to bask in the moment, celebrate this Test win, and then win the series as well," said Roach.
Roach expressed gratitude for the team result and noted the significance of the victory for their tournament standings.
"It's been a long journey. I'm happy the guys won the game, that's the most important thing.
I think the win is what we needed to get ourselves on the World Test Championship table," he added.
He also praised the leadership group following the emphatic win in the Caribbean.
"Well done to the team, Roston Chase on his first win as captain and Coach Sammy on his first win as well as coach.
It took a lot to be here. I want to be here for all these guys and everyone supporting me," Roach stated.
Sammy and Chase Praise Team Effort
Head Coach Daren Sammy commended the veteran bowler for his leadership and dedication in the dressing room.
"He's a legend. In the dressing room, he's a leader.
Every time the captain calls on him, he creates a chance for us and that's important.
Getting wickets with the new ball was something we spoke about in the last World Test Championship.
The respect that he has and the way he has carried himself, that shows," Sammy shared.
Sammy noted that despite a reduction in pace, the bowler showed intense emotion and commitment.
"Even though he's lost a little bit of pace over the years you can see his dedication, and you could see the emotions on his face.
I think he's in the top five now for the West Indies," he added.
The West Indies compiled a first-innings total of 626 for 9, recovering from 178 for 5 through a world-record sixth-wicket partnership of 401 runs between Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase.
Jangoo converted his maiden Test century into 233 runs, becoming the first batsman in first-class cricket to convert each of his first three centuries into double centuries.
"I think I have a formula in batting, especially in red-ball cricket, where I know that once I get to 20 runs that means I've faced close to 40 or 50 balls," said Jangoo.
Jangoo credited the batting coach for emphasizing the importance of a strong start at the crease.
"Our batting coach, Floyd Reifer, mentioned it to me as well, how starts are so important.
So, I think I went out there with that formula and it worked," he said.
Skipper Roston Chase scored a career-best 194 runs off 312 balls, securing his sixth career century and his first since being appointed captain a year ago.
"For the past two or three years, I wasn't really playing a lot of red-ball cricket, so it was just for me to find back that rhythm in this form of the game," said Chase.
Chase explained that playing regional four-day matches helped him adjust his mindset back toward occupying the crease for longer durations.
"I played a few games this year in the four-day regional, and I thought that really helped me to find back my footing in the red-ball game, being out there for long periods," he added.
The captain acknowledged that his focus had previously shifted too much toward quick scoring rather than patient batting.
"I think that during those two to three years out of the red-ball cricket, spending time at the crease was not something that was really on my mind.
It was more about scoring and scoring quickly.
But I think in red-ball cricket, occupying the crease is first and foremost, and once you do that, the runs will come," Chase concluded.
Sri Lanka posted 308 runs in their first innings, led by captain Dhananjaya de Silva's 120 and Dinesh Chandimal's 54, but failed to replicate the performance in their second innings.
