Nissanka, Theekshana lead Sri Lanka to dominant win over West Indies
Sri Lanka 244 for two (Nissanka 104, Karunaratne 83) beat West Indies 243 all out (Carty 87, Theekshana 4-34) by eight wickets
A second straight ton by Pathum Nissanka and yet one more four-for from Maheesh Theekshana headlined a dominant eight-wicket win over West Indies, as Sri Lanka accomplished a cushty warm-up for Sunday’s last in opposition to Netherlands, in Harare.
Set a middling goal of 244, Sri Lanka ran it down with little fuss, inclusive of a tournament-best opening stand of 190 between Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne – although each had been handed lifelines by an abject West Indian efficiency within the subject. While each would fall earlier than the chase was accomplished, Nissanka for 104 and Karunaratne for 83, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama closed the sport out with 34 balls to spare.
For West Indies, the one brilliant spark was Keacy Carty, whose 96-ball 87 dragged his aspect to a preventing whole, when at one level it appeared like they’d develop into the ninth consecutive aspect to be skittled for lower than 200 runs by Sri Lanka on this event.
This had not appeared the case when Johnson Charles was flying excessive throughout a brisk 36-run opening stand with Brandon King. With Dasun Shanaka opening the bowling alongside Dilshan Madushanka, Charles and King had discovered the Lankan captain’s mild tempo to their liking. But the early introduction of eventual Player of the Match Theekshana turned the sport.
King was the primary to go, his center stump disturbed after he went too far throughout trying to brush. Shamarh Brooks then acquired a faint nick by to the keeper that was confirmed on evaluation, whereas Shai Hope was trapped in entrance by one which skidded by off an excellent size to catch him sitting in his crease.
Charles was nonetheless going robust at this level, however then the generally wayward Matheesha Pathirana grabbed his solely scalp, trapping him lbw with one which was fast, straight and stored a contact low from again of a size. Theekshana returned later to depart the West Indies reeling on 155 for 8 when he knocked again Romario Shepherd’s center stump.
At that time, it appeared like West Indies would battle to achieve 40 overs, not to mention the complete 50, however Carty – aided by the actual fact he was dropped on 8 – strung collectively a collection of lower-order stands to haul his aspect into the sport, on a pitch that had few demons in it.
He first got here to the crease at 62 for 4 with Nicholas Pooran already there, however the latter grew to become legspinner Dushan Hemantha’s maiden ODI scalp, holing out at deep midwicket. Hemantha was enjoying for the rested Wanindu Hasaranga.
Carty then placed on 41 with Kyle Mayers, earlier than the latter was castled by Sahan Arachchige – yet one more debutant, in for Dhananjaya de Silva. Roston Chase shortly after grew to become Hemantha’s second scalp of the sport, caught lbw by a ripping googly, earlier than Carty stitched collectively one other defiant stand – this time 32 with Shepherd.
Once Shepherd fell, the writing seemed to be on the wall, however Carty guided Kevin Sinclair and Akeal Hossein by stands of 63 and 25 respectively – the previous the perfect of the innings – to elevate the entire to respectability.
The software proven by Carty all through would serve for example from an in any other case dire West Indian effort. This was no extra obvious than within the subject when a number of probabilities of various issue had been dropped – a recurring theme all through this event – probably the most obtrusive of which was by captain Hope himself, who let by a skier, regardless of having the gloves on.
In a recreation that many might need assumed would have had much more significance when it was pencilled in at the beginning of the event, ultimately solely served to point out the differing trajectories, not simply of those two sides, however of West Indies and the Associates as nicely. When Sri Lanka flip up on Sunday to face the Dutch, they’re prone to be in for a far sterner check.