Sri Lanka 234 for five (Asalanka 77, Madushka 69, Motie 3-47) beat West Indies 185 for 4 (Rutherford 74*, Carty 37, Chase 33*, Hasaranga 2-18) by 5 wickets (DLS technique)
Asalanka top-scored with a 71-ball 77, whereas Madushka completed with 69 off 54. Each departed unable to see the chase by way of, however contemplating the precarious place at which that they had come collectively – 45 for 3 within the seventh over – that they had achieved greater than sufficient to make sure the win.
Kamindu Mendis was there on the finish to see the win by way of, with an unbeaten 30 off 21, and alongside him was Janith Liyanage on a run-a-ball 18.
Whereas Motie too went at over six an over he at the least posed a wicket-taking risk. This was not one thing the pair of Roston Chase and Hayden Walsh Jr. might boast, as they gave up 80 runs within the 10 overs between them.
Whereas this was right down to a mixture of errant bowling and ruthless batting, the West Indian spinners had been additionally impacted by a moist ball because of a moist outfield. The rain additionally meant that the pitch had develop into simpler to bat on by the point Sri Lanka took lease of the wicket.
Earlier, Sherfane Rutherford’s counterattack had been minimize quick by rain to deliver to a untimely shut the West Indies innings on 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs.
However even with that caveat, the best way Sri Lanka approached their chase made them nicely price their victory. Madushka, making his debut instead of the injured Pathum Nissanka, opened the innings alongside Avishka Fernando however by the point he confronted his fifth supply in ODI cricket, Sri Lanka had discovered themselves already two down.
Alzarri Joseph struck twice early•Getty Photos
Avishka drove a widish supply straight to level, whereas Kusal Mendis – who had seemed in good nick with a trio of enterprising boundaries – top-edged an tried pull. This introduced Sadeera Samarawickrama to the crease, and he wasted little time taking the initiative, placing Jayden Seales for 3 boundaries within the fifth over of the chase.
With the specter of rain looming, Sri Lanka’s sport plan was clear – get forward of the DLS equation. However when Sadeera fell, courtesy an absolute peach from Motie that knocked again off stump, Sri Lanka had been abruptly on the danger of letting the sport slip into harmful territory – even with the security of having the ability to bat till No 9.
But when these watching on had been feeling nervous, Sri Lanka’s skipper hardly let it present. Off simply the second supply he confronted he swept Motie for 4, earlier than driving him exquisitely by way of the covers an over later. Madushka, who up till this level was content material to show over the strike to his extra aggressive companions, lastly notched his first boundary within the tenth over.
And this partnership scarcely took the foot off the fuel because the West Indies struggled to take care of tight traces and lengths. Between the tenth and twentieth over solely two overs did not include a boundary, as Sri Lanka racked up 72 runs in that interval. And the scoring solely accelerated from that time on, with an extra 41 runs scored between overs 20-25.
Madushka ultimately edged to slide, with Asalanka following shortly after trapped leg earlier than – each off Motie – however the required run charge had dropped to just about 4 an over by that time, and any peril lengthy since neutralised.
Nishan Madushka celebrates his maiden ODI fifty, which got here on debut•Related Press
West Indies’ finest interval of the sport had occurred a lot earlier. Previous to the rain intervention, that they had been within the means of regaining some misplaced momentum with Rutherford and Chase in the midst of an 85-run fifth-wicket stand off 78 deliveries.
Wanindu Hasaranga had taken two wickets, whereas Jeffrey Vandersay and Asalanka had one apiece. However on a dry Pallekele floor, West Indies knew a trial by spin was all the time on the playing cards after that they had gained the toss and elected to bat.
Dunith Wellalage was into the assault as early because the fifth over – and even earlier than that medium pacer Liyanage had resorted to offcutters on a tough size – whereas spin was in impact from each ends not lengthy after.
Regardless of a promising opening stand it wasn’t lengthy earlier than West Indies had stumbled to 54 for 3, with Rutherford becoming a member of Keacy Carty within the center, and the scoring charge now hovering at round 4 an over. It was throughout this era that Sri Lanka’s spinners took whole management, as West Indies had been content material to play it protected, racking up quite a few dot deliveries, and selecting up the odd ones and twos.
A Rutherford minimize for 4 within the seventeenth over was the primary West Indies boundary in 47 deliveries; by the normal midway level of 25 overs, that they had inched to 94 for 3. It was right here {that a} annoyed Carty unleashed a robust one-handed loft over long-on for six to interrupt the shackles considerably, however that aid was shortlived as he fell going for a repeat efficiency the very subsequent supply. That dropped at an finish a 46-run partnership – the West Indies’ better of the innings till that time.
However with the reliable Chase alongside him, Rutherford continued as earlier than, selecting off singles and making an attempt to pounce on any uncommon unfastened deliveries. However as their confidence grew and a persistent drizzle greased the floor, the pair struck 43 within the final 5 overs they confronted. With the loss of life overs nonetheless to come back, a complete within the area of 275 was on the playing cards. However then the rains got here.
