Phew, that ends another series win for Sri Lanka at home, the second of those coming after trailing at one stage. Meanwhile, despite the loss, West Indies will have positives to take back: wickets from Permaul and Warrican, and runs from Bonner. We now wrap up the tour, and thanks for your company throughout. This is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Karthik, Ranjith and Deiva. Stay safe, and take care!
Atanu Sen: "Sri Lanka have improved drastically since the failure of 2019 CWC. The team is going through rebuilding process its not easy for a team to bounce back after hard times. But credit should go to the team management for transforming this team into a great shape. Sri Lanka now can surely give a tough competition to other teams. It will be interesting to see how Sri Lanka perform in the overseas Congratulations to Sri Lanka on test series victory."
Simon: "Inexplicable that Mendis is not PoM"
Dimuth will now lift the Sobers-Tissera trophy from the man himself, Michael Tissera.
Here comes the winning captain Karunaratne: "The boys knew what to do in the conditions, especially Ramesh, Pathum and Dhananjaya. Pathum was very confident, and he was rotating the strike, which is what I expect. Hopefully, he can convert his fifties into the big scores. Oshada did a very hard job in the field. He was not scared. I want to lead from the front, and now I am looking forward to the next series against India. Mickey Arthur was a father to me. He was always there for me and the team. We are worried that he is leaving, but I wish him good luck for the future." [He now speaks in Sinhalese to thank the ground staff and the crowd]
The visiting captain Brathwaite speaks now: "Our batting in the first innings. We were in a good position. I should have got a big hundred, but we let ourselves down. We had a chance [when Sri Lanka's ninth-wicket stand put on hundred in the second innings]. It is not easy starting on this pitch, so it is important to bowl as well as possible. As batters, we need to do it for longer periods. If we can do that, the team can be in a better position."
But then, Ramesh Mendis is the Player of the Series: "Pleased that I was able to bowl my country to a win, and with the support from my coaches and the other spinners. I thank my coaches, and hard work is the secret of my success. I am more of a bowling bowling allrounder now, though I was more of a batting allrounder in domestic cricket."
Ramesh Mendis Dhananjaya de Silva is the Player of the Match: "Batsman can score when under pressure, and I enjoy it. I am working hard for these hundreds, and my father's blessings are on me. It was tough, the ball was turning when their spinners were bowling on good lines and lengths. We had to be safe, so we had to bat long. That was the plan. I want to mention about Mickey Arthur and Grant Flower for being with us."
Time for the presentations
Vijay: "If only Holder hadn't picked up that one wicket it would have been 39 out of 39 for the spinners" --- And the run-outs?
Ian: "Another SL win, another SL awesome performance, another performance to prove SL team is growing toward the glory days... SL cricket looking good. "
Manith: "What a come back by SL ! This is the best farewell match ever to a wonderful coach named Mickey Arthur who developed a team from zero to hero. Thanks a lot Mickey for everything! "
And in case we forgot, this was Mickey Arthur's final game in charge of the Sri Lanka side before he leaves for Derbyshire. A brilliant come-from-behind win to ensure he walks off with some nice celebrations in the dressing room.
Ronald Kirui: "as a west indies fan, honestly what kinda joke is this...each game is exactly the same debacle. Can this year end."
Sandeep: "Shout out to the guy who commented mid day yesterday that SL will score 310/9d, Windies will be bowled out for 120 and SL will win by 141. Not too far off buddy"
Meanwhile, here's a nice stat from Gaurav Sundararaman from the stats team: this is only the second time that two Sri Lanka spinners have taken five wickets each in a Test. The last such instance was against Zimbabwe, back in 2002.
Muzahid: "Embuldeniya dropped the catch to get his fifth xD"
2.39pm Another West Indies collapse, another West Indies loss and another disappointment. From 65 for 1 to 132 all out in the second innings, which followed 166 for 2 to 253 all out in the first. But take nothing away from Sri Lanka's spinners Mendis and Embuldeniya, and in particular the former, who finished with 11 in the game. Sri Lanka grabbed the opportunity of the pitch easing out yesterday with both hands, and led by DDS' 155*, set the tone for another win.
JA Warrican c de Silva b Embuldeniya 3 (6m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
Can Embuldeniya has his own five-for now?
Nick: "Waking up and seeing 81/2 didn't make sense, but this is a much more familiar sight. Can't wait to hear Braithwaite talk about the top and middle order needing to give more application in an hour."
END OF OVER:56 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 132/9
- Joshua Da Silva4 (15b)
- Jomel Warrican3 (2b)
- Ramesh Mendis25-6-66-5
- Lasith Embuldeniya20-6-35-4
Warrican is the last man in. Mendis from over the wicket
V Permaul lbw b Mendis 1 (5m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00
Can Mendis get his fifth? Over the wicket to Permaul.
Shehan: "I'm very impressed with these two umpires decisions…"
END OF OVER:55 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 129/8
- Veerasammy Permaul1 (2b)
- Joshua Da Silva4 (14b)
- Lasith Embuldeniya20-6-35-4
- Ramesh Mendis24-6-63-4
Permaul is in. Embuldeniya from around the wicket.
KAJ Roach lbw b Embuldeniya 13 (20m 17b 3x4 0x6) SR: 76.47