BALAGOLLA, Sri Lanka, CMC – Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka each scored brisk half-centuries to assist their aspect register a five-wicket win over West Indies within the opening, rain-affected One Day Worldwide on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium right here Sunday.
The West Indies, buoyed by an 85-run partnership between Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase, reached 185 for 4 off 38.3 overs earlier than heavy rains compelled the gamers off the pitch.
When play lastly restarted over three hours later, a choice was taken to carry the Windies’ innings to an finish, and Sri Lanka was set a revised goal of 232 in 37 overs below the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern methodology.
The house aspect then comfortably romped to victory with 31 balls to spare, ending on 234 for 5, to take a 1-0 lead in one of the best of three collection.
It was an unlucky finish to the match for the West Indies, who had been simply starting to seek out their groove when the heavens opened up.
The guests had been in early hassle when leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga bowled Brandon King for 14 and had Alick Athanaze stumped for 10 to go away them 41 for 2 within the tenth over.
Captain Shai Hope’s lean run of kind continued when he was trapped lbw by off-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay after scoring simply 5 runs, because the Windies slipped to 54 for 3.
Keacy Carty discovered a reliable associate in Rutherford, and the pair added 46 runs to hold their crew to triple figures.
However Carty tried to repeat the shot one ball after hitting Asalanka down the bottom for six however picked out Dunith Wellalage at long-on to be out for 37 and the rating 100 for 4.
It was the final wicket the West Indies would lose as Rutherford and Roston Chase annoyed Sri Lanka’s spinners with clever batting.
Rutherford was affected person early on, requiring eight balls to get off the mark, however as soon as he discovered his timing, he dazzled with an array of strokes.
After hitting Vandersay for a 4 and 6 in consecutive overs, he moved into his 40s by dispatching Asalanka over deep midwicket for six.
He introduced up his half-century off 64 balls when he pulled Asalanka for an additional six within the thirty fourth over.
Whereas they didn’t hit many boundaries, the pair saved the runs ticking over with fast working between the wickets as they labored the ball across the floor for twos and singles.
However simply as they had been seeking to speed up, the rains got here, unexpectedly ending their innings.
Rutherford was unbeaten on 74 from 82 balls with 5 fours and three sixes, whereas Chase scored a run-a-ball 33 with 4 boundaries.
Sri Lanka additionally suffered early setbacks, needing to attain at round six runs an over.
Avishka Fernando scored 5 earlier than he drove pacer Alzarri Joseph straight to Roston Chase at backward level. Sri Lanka stumbled to 22 for 2 when wicketkeeper Shai Hope caught behind Kusal Mendis after his tried pull ballooned into the air.
Spinner Gudakesh Motie then bowled Sadeera Samarawickrama to place West Indies in management at 45 for 3 within the seventh over.
Nonetheless, Asalanka and Madushka got here collectively in a 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket to wrestle the initiative away from the guests.
Hope used a wide range of bowlers in an try to interrupt the stand however couldn’t accomplish that till it was too late.
Asalanka introduced up his 50 off 44 balls when he scrambled three runs after guiding Chase to 3rd man, and Madushka introduced up his 50 on debut when he steered the identical bowler to sq. leg for a single two overs later.
The pair appeared set to take Sri Lanka over the road, however after hitting Motie for 2 boundaries within the twenty fifth over, Madushka was caught by King at slip to be out for 69. Sri Lanka was effectively poised at 182 for 4 within the twenty fifth over.
Motie additionally dismissed Asalanka 5 runs later for a well-played 77 from 71 balls. Nonetheless, Janith Liyanage, who completed unbeaten on 18 from 18 balls, and Kamindu Mendis, who hit 30 from 31 balls, led Sri Lanka to a cushty victory.
The second ODI shall be on Wednesday on the similar venue.
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