GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

West Indies' positive strategy in their run chase was exactly what Sri Lanka hoped for in the opening Digicel Test that finished Wednesday at the National Stadium at Providence.

Set a challenging target of 437 to get with over an hour on the penultimate day and the final day remaining, West Indies were bowled out for 315, losing by 121 runs late on the fifth day.

"We wanted them to play a few shots on this wicket because that's how we could have created opportunities," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene revealed.

"That's why we gave them a target they could have achieved rather than giving them 500 when they would have been in a very defensive frame of mind. We gave them a target thinking this is a target they could chase, especially since they have shot-makers.

chances

"The way they (Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan) batted (at the end of the fourth day) was good, they took some chances and it paid off for them, that's the way they bat."

Sri Lanka, winning the toss and batting first on a flat track, racked up 476 for eight declared before bundling the Windies out for 280 in reply.

Bolstered by a lead of 196, Sri Lanka chased quick runs before declaring for the second time in the match at 240 for seven. Despite nicely placed at 96 for one at the end of the fourth day and pushing on to 156 for no further loss inside the first hour on the final day, the Windies batting eventually fell away.

"Their attitude was totally different in the way they approached it (in the last hour of the fourth day) and we knew that we were up against a good challenge," Jayawardene said.

"Bravo (Dwayne) and Ronnie (Sarwan) both batted really well and we had to be very patient with those two guys, make sure that we don't give them too many easy runs, wait for our opportunity which we did and once we got that breakthrough, we picked up a few more wickets, then we know we could put pressure on the [other batsmen].

"If they (Bravo and Sarwan) had batted till about tea time [on the final day], it would have been a different story, we would have struggled. We managed to get Bravo before lunch and then Ronnie before tea, which were two crucial wickets and in between, we got Shiv (Chanderpaul), which was an important wicket for us."

He added: ÒEven though Chris was at one end we knew we could put pressure on the other batsmen and see what would happen and our guys bowled really well to pick up those wickets.Ó

Sri LankaÕs win was even more significant in that it was their first-ever Test victory on Caribbean soil after two previous unsuccessful tours.

ÒWe had a challenge when we came and that was to win a Test match in the West Indies and we have achieved that. We played hard, a lot of guys contributed,Ó Jayawardene stressed.

ÒItÕs important that we go for a win in the second match as well, thatÕs the way we play cricket, we want to win every Test match we play. ThatÕs the attitude whether it is home or away.

ÒThat has served us very well in the last five to six years, thatÕs why weÕve been winning Test matches away from home and we wonÕt go away from that attitude.Ó

The second Test bowls off April 3 at the QueenÕs Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago.