A 143-run opening stand between Shai Hope and Evin Lewis inspires West Indies to an eight-wicket victory in North Sound.
All bowled out for 232, Sri Lanka was outclassed by a strong West Indies batting performance as the hosts go 1-0 in the three-match ODI series.
Set a target of 233 runs to win, West Indies went straight to work scoring 56 runs at the 10-over mark, for the loss of no wickets.
Openers Evin Lewis (65) and Shai Hope (110) were rarely troubled on their quest for victory as they brought up their 100-run partnership in the 23rd over.
Sri Lanka finally got a breakthrough in the 29th over thanks to Dushmantha Chameera (2/50), who bowled Lewis for 65 with a full toss on middle stump. But it was only a small chink in West Indies' armour.
A blistering start for @windiescricket as the Evin Lewis-Shai Hope partnership shows no signs of coming to a stop.
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2021
128/0#WIvSL | https://t.co/vBWb76hWhP pic.twitter.com/8cBJXsPmDd
Coming into this match, Hope had recorded three successive ODI half-centuries against Sri Lanka in 2020, and the 27-year-old made that four in emphatic fashion.
At the end of the 41st over, Hope brought up his 10th ODI ton in 133 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six in the process.
A 10th ODI 💯 for Shai Hope#WIvSL pic.twitter.com/jCDR2NeEWY
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2021
The West Indies top scorer was seven overs short of batting through the entire innings after Chameera picked up his second wicket, taking out off stump.
From that point, West Indies cruised to victory with Darren Bravo (37*) and Jason Mohammed (13*) at the crease unbeaten.
Earlier, Sri Lanka chose to bat off the back of a successful toss and at first, it looked like a good decision. They started off with a sparkling 105-run opening partnership off 19.2 overs, courtesy of Danushka Gunathilaka (55) and Dimuth Karunaratne (52).
The Sri Lanka openers brought their side up to the three-figure mark but once Karunaratne was caught and bowled by Kieron Pollard (1/15), the visitors lost their next three wickets for just 14 runs, with one dismissal causing some controversy.
What can't Captain Polly do!🤯 #WIvSL #MenInMaroon #cgcoralisle
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 10, 2021
Live Scorecard pic.twitter.com/OVTqiVHEmt
Gunathilaka was given out for allegedly obstructing the field after an appeal from Pollard - a turning point in the match putting West Indies on top.
From there on in, Sri Lanka had little to cheer for except for Ashen Bandara, who scored an impressive maiden half-century on his ODI debut. The 22-year-old hit 50 off 60 balls including four boundaries, giving the Sri Lanka bowlers something to salvage.
A fifty on Debut for Bandara with Sri Lanka at 232 at the end of the first innings.
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2021
How will West Indies fair in their run-chase?#WIvSL | https://t.co/vBWb76hWhP pic.twitter.com/0axliLsbob
Restricting Sri Lanka to 232 in 49 overs, West Indies used seven bowlers with Jason Mohammed the standout taking 2/12 off four overs.
The second ODI will be played on Friday.
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