Caribbean team toured Sri Lanka for the two match test series that was played from 14th to 18th October and 22nd to 26th October. First match was played at Galle and the second match was organized at the oval stadium in Colombo. The series was termed as SOBERS TISSERA trophy. GARY SOBERS was one of the greatest all rounder of test cricket while TISSERA is one of the legends of Sri Lankan cricket. Since the start of the series, home team was considered to be the favorite and it lived up to its reputation by handing a 2-0 defeat to the West Indies. Home team was led by the all rounder Angelo Mathews while Caribbean team was spearheaded by Jason holder, the tall lanky all rounder.
The series is marked by the performance of the off break bowler SURAJ RANDIV who delivered a sterling performance and helped to crush the back of the West Indian batsmen. On the batting front DIMUTH KARUNARATNE hit a wonderful century to prop up Sri Lanka to Victory. West Indies batsmen failed to counter the spin and the guile of the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Darren bravo, the all rounder from the touring side offered a token of resistance with gutsy batting and he was ably complemented by the young JERMAINE Black wood but their efforts proved to be futile. RANGANA HERATH was the wrecker in chief plucking away the wickets in each match. He was instrumental in carving win for the home side.
In the series KUSAL MENDIS from Sri Lanka and JOMEL WARRICANE from West Indies made their test debuts. The highest wicket taker from the series was RANGANA HERATH with 15 wickets at an average of 16.13 runs and economy of 2.55. Similarly Prasad from the Sri Lankan line up chipped in with total of 9 wickets to put the West Indies in dire straits.
The rising star CHANDIMAL from Sri Lanka notched a high score of 151 runs to help Sri Lanka in positing optimum score. West Indies always played catch up to the home side and they never were in with a chance all throughout the series. In this series HERATH took the maiden haul of 5 wickets against the West Indies team.
HERATH was adjudged the man of the series for his impeccable performance. As far as the bowling of the West Indies is concerned, KC BRAITHWAITE was the star bowler by scalping 6 wickets for an impressive average of 7.16. He along with BISHOO tried to counter the Sri Lankan batsmen however the home advantage proved too much for them. Jason holder, the captain with the bowl couldn’t do too much and was unable to stop the scoring rate with his pacy and bouncy deliveries.
DM bravo from the tourist’s side scored 144 runs in the two match test series and proved to be an important cog in the wheel for the middle order. Although he tried hard, the support from other batsmen was not forthcoming. The weakness of the West Indian batsmen against the spin was exposed as they couldn’t cope with the left arm deliveries of Herath.