Roach joins elite 300-club in West Indies’ innings romp over Sri Lanka

Roach’s 300th Wicket

Milestone: Kemar Roach became only the 5th West Indies bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. WI all-time list: Joins Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, and Lance Gibbs. First since Curtly Ambrose. How it happened: 9th wicket of SL’s 2nd innings – Asitha Fernando bowled by a full delivery angling in from wide of the crease. Celebration: Mobbed by teammates, presented with a WI Test shirt marked “300”Match figures: 4-51 in 2nd innings.

Gaining significantly more movement in the air and off the surface than Sri Lanka's quicks had, West Indies' fast bowlers threatened to take wickets right through day four's 27.2 overs. It was Roach that was getting the ball to hoop most, however, finding massive inswing into the right-hander, often late in the ball's trajectory, to threaten the pads and stumps of the right-handers he bowled to, and the outside edges of the left-handers.

Roach's 300th wicket was the ninth of Sri Lanka's innings, Asitha Fernando's stumps being clattered by a full one speared in from wide of the crease. He was mobbed by adoring team-mates who seemed to take even more delight in his milestone than him, and was later presented a West Indies Test shirt with the number 300 on it to commemorate the occasion. He is the first West Indies bowler since Curtly Ambrose to the milestone. Among fast bowlers, only Courtney Walsh, Ambrose, and Malcolm Marshall have more wickets for West Indies than him.

1st innings: WI 626/9d – Amir Jangoo 233, Roston Chase 194. Their 401-run stand for 6th wicket is highest in Test history. SL 1st innings: 308 – Dhananjaya de Silva 120SL 2nd innings: 101 all out. None of the top six reached double figures. Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 43 off 60Pace attack: Roach, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph got far more movement in air and off pitch than SL quicks.

Sri Lanka went to lunch at 81 for 6 and it only took West Indies 6.1 further overs to remove the remaining batters. Roach struck twice in two overs to get to his 300th, and after some strong words exchanged with Lahiru Kumara and Sonal Dinusha, Seales took the final wicket to complete a stunning victory.

West Indies, essentially, have dominated this Test from start to finish. And they were so spectacularly dominant in days three and four, they crushed an opponent that had been expected to compete.

Kemar Roach: 300th wicket, constant threat with late inswing to right-handers and movement away to left-handers. Jayden Seales + Shamar Joseph + Alzarri Joseph: Incisive spells alongside Roach. Amir Jangoo: Maiden Test ton converted to 233Roston Chase: 194, plus first win as captain.