1st Day: Lahiru Udara leads Sri Lanka resistance with 188

Udara’s marathon 188: Opener Lahiru Udara scored 188 off 248 balls - his maiden Test century and by far his highest score. His previous best in 3 Tests was 40. He fell in the last hour, 12 runs short of a double hundred. Rescue act after early collapse: Sri Lanka were 25-2 after losing Nishan Madushka and Dinesh Chandimal to Shamar Joseph. Udara then turned it around.

215-run stand with Kamindu Mendis: Udara and Kamindu put on 215 off 255 balls for the 3rd wicket. Kamindu made 84 off 120. It’s Sri Lanka’s highest partnership in the West Indies. Day 1 finish: Sri Lanka closed on 338-5. Sonal Dinusha 5_ and Kusal Mendis 0_ will resume on day 2.

At 32 years of age, Udara has had to bide his time to make his way into the Test side, and it was just his luck that Sri Lanka's Test schedule shrunk considerably just as he made his debut last June. Then in the Caribbean, he might not have got a look in, but an injury to Pathum Nissanka opened the door, and like Amir Jangoo in the first Test he took his chance with both hands.

Udara's epic 188 off 248 all but ensured that the visitors ended the day in precisely the sort of commanding position they would have envisioned when they opted to bat - only partially sullied by those late strikes.

His innings came primarily across two major stands. The first was of the record-breaking variety, as Udara and Kamindu Mendis (84 off 120) struck 215 off just 255 deliveries. It was Sri Lanka's highest-ever partnership in the Caribbean and very nearly their highest ever against West Indies in Tests. It also came after their side had stumbled to 25 for 2.

The second was less brisk but equally as important, as Dhananjaya de Silva joined Udara in the middle to stitch together a stand of 93 off 179. This one had come just as West Indies had begun to put together a much more disciplined display with the ball in the final session - efforts that had for large parts seemed destined to go without reward.

Sri Lanka won the toss and batted after losing the 1st Test by an innings and 217 runs. Udara got his chance due to a Pathum Nissanka injury. At 32, this was his breakthrough Test innings. West Indies hit back late with Jayden Seales getting his 100th Test wicket to dismiss Dhananjaya, and Udara top-edging after treatment for a lower back issue.

But to West Indies' credit they kept their energy levels high in the face of an evergrowing stand. The breakthrough too came as a result of some proactive enterprise. Having spotted that Kamindu was increasingly coming out of his crease, Shai Hope came up to the wicket. Greaves bowled one down leg that saw him overbalance and briefly fall over - it was only a split second that he raised his back foot before springing is front foot back over the crease, but Hope was lightning with his glove work as he whipped off the bails and broke the partnership.

From that point on West Indies - with Chase operating from one end to help boost their flagging over rate - did what they ought to have done all day, kept things tight. Dhananjaya and Udara too showed patience in this period, but will be disappointed in themselves that they weren't able to last till the end of play.