West Indies scored 414-8 and 223-7, out of which the last five wickets contributed 323 in total — almost 51% of the runs. Sri Lanka were first dismissed for 185 and then 226 to go down tamely on the final day.

“Our lower order has been one of the most consistent lower orders in world cricket for the last two or three years,” said Holder, though numbers suggest he is slightly off the mark.

From the West Indies point of view, it was important to start the series – and the season – on a winning note, as it came after a year when they won three Tests and lost six.

“We had a lot of time to sit back and reflect on how the last year ended,” Holder said. “To start this series the way we’ve started it is quite pleasing. Knowing that in the past we’ve lost at the start of the series and were playing catch-up cricket, it was good to come out of the gates on a winning note.”

The second Test will start in Gros Islet on June 14.