Kemar Roach joins West Indies legends with 300th Test wicket as hosts crush Sri Lanka by an innings

Kemar Roach etched his name into West Indies cricket history by becoming only the fifth bowler from the Caribbean nation to claim 300 Test wickets. The landmark came during West Indies' emphatic innings-and-217-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the Sobers-Tissera Trophy at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.Roach reached the milestone when he bowled Asitha Fernando, sparking emotional celebrations from the 37-year-old. He now joins an elite list of West Indies bowling legends comprising Courtney Walsh (519 wickets), Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376) and Lance Gibbs (309). Roach is the first West Indies bowler to reach the 300-wicket mark since Gibbs achieved the feat more than five decades ago.

Speaking after the match, an emotional Roach thanked his teammates, family and supporters for helping him achieve the milestone."First and foremost. It has been a long journey. I am happy that we won. To get up on the championship table. Congrats to Roston for his first win as captain and Sammy for his first win as coach. It has been a long journey. It took a lot. Everyone has been supporting me. I have had countless conversations with our physio. He has been phenomenal. To my family, my mom is watching. She is proud. My kids. My friends. I want to thank all Antigua fans for supporting the team.

A win is what we wanted and we have got it. Right now we will celebrate this win. And then discussions will be had. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate. Just bask in the moment right now,'' Roach said.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test summary

West Indies produced one of the finest performances in their recent Test history to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The hosts first dismissed Sri Lanka for 308, despite a fighting century from captain Dhananjaya de Silva.The match turned decisively in West Indies' favour when captain Roston Chase and Amir Jangoo stitched together a world-record 401-run partnership for the sixth wicket, guiding the hosts to 626/9 declared and a commanding first-innings lead of 318 runs.Asked to follow on, Sri Lanka's batting collapsed against a relentless West Indies pace attack. Roach led the charge with 4/51, while Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph provided excellent support as Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 101 in their second innings.The crushing innings-and-217-run victory ranks among the biggest Test wins in West Indies history and also handed new captain Roston Chase and head coach Daren Sammy a memorable first Test victory together.