Sri Lanka Take 1-0 Lead on Back of Kusal, Nissanka, Bowlers

Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 41 runs to go 1-0 up in the 3-match ODI series. Sri Lanka: 303/7 in 50 overs. West Indies: 262 all out in 49.5 overs.

Maheesh Theekshana returned outstanding figures of 2 for 26 as West Indies' batters frequently failed to to pick his variations, while Wanindu Hasaranga took 1 for 43. The only West Indies batter to cross fifty was captain Shai Hope, who hit 56 from 66 balls. But although there were other contributions, West Indies never managed to put a long partnership together. While Sri Lanka's spinners squeezed West Indies, Dushmantha Chameera was the strike bowler, claiming 4 for 67 from his 10 overs.

After the teams exited briefly for bad light when West Indies were nine down in the 49th over, they returned to finish the match, the last wicket going down with four balls to spare. Sri Lanka now go 1-0 up in a three-match series.

Kusal Mendis *: 72 off 62 balls, 36th ODI fifty, aggressive knock with sixes off Gudakesh Motie. Pathum Nissanka: 79 off 102 balls, 19th ODI fifty, anchored the innings. Partnership: 136 runs for the 2nd wicket to lay the foundation. Later push: Charith Asalanka 45 and Janith Liyanage 44* added 64 for the 5th wicket to take Sri Lanka past 300.

Kusal ramped up the scoring soon after arriving at the crease, however. He took an immediate liking to Gudakesh Motie, hitting four sixes down the ground off him in the space of three overs. In the last of those overs - the 20th of the innings - Kusal hit two sixes and a four, as Sri Lanka plundered 18 in total. Motie never bowled again in the innings, with Roston Chase delivering ten tidy overs for two wickets instead. Kusal motored to a 42-ball half century, and had looked good to push on when he attempted to swipe a Matthew Forde full toss to leg, and somehow top-edged it to short fine leg. The 136-run second-wicket stand with Nissanka had put Sri Lanka firmly on track for a score in excess of 300.

Dushmantha Chameera: 4/67, broke the game open by bowling Roston Chase for 33 when West Indies still had hope. West Indies lost wickets regularly after a 50-run opening stand and 52 for the 3rd wicket. Captain Shai Hope top-scored with 56 off 66, but no one kicked on.

West Indies needed 43 off 8 balls with 1 wicket left when a floodlight failure caused a delay, but the game was already gone.

But it is their bowling that will worry West Indies most after this match. They lacked penetration in the middle overs, and the seamers were also too indisciplined, bowling 12 wides, while also straying too frequently into the pads. Although West Indies had four specialist bowlers, allrounder Chase was likely their best bowler on the day.

Bottom line: Kusal Mendis [72 off 62] and Pathum Nissanka [79 off 102] shared a 136-run stand to power Sri Lanka to 303/7, and Dushmantha Chameera’s 4/67 blew away West Indies’ chase, giving Sri Lanka a 41-run win and 1-0 lead in the ODI series.