Lewis and Rutherford steer West Indies
Evin Lewis holds his helmet aloft as he celebrates after West Indies won the third ODI against Sri Lanka at Pallekele - AFP
Opener Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford and skipper Shai Hope steered West Indies to a thrilling 8-wicket win with six balls to spare against Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI played at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday.
West Indies, set a daunting revised target of 195 runs for victory in 23 overs after Sri Lanka made 156 for 3 in a rain shortened innings, was helped by the trio as they raced to the target in the 22nd over to end their tour with a consolation win as Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-1.
Lewis was in terrific form as he slammed a quick-fire unbeaten 102 in only 61 balls, inclusive of nine boundaries and four sixes and shared two match winning partnerships. Rutherford cracked an unbeaten half ton in just 26 balls with four boundaries and three sixes.
West Indies in the run chase was given a sedate start by openers Evin Lewis and Brandon King, who put on 36 runs. Lewis was joined by skipper Hope as the pair laid the foundation, putting on 72 runs for the second wicket in only 53 balls.
The dismissal of Hope on 108 for 2 saw the Windies left with the task of making a further 87 runs in 51 balls as Lewis and Rutherford batted with cautious. In the latter part of the innings the pair smothered the Sri Lanka bowling attack paying scant respect as they accumulated runs with ease and with minimum of fuss.
In the 18th over they were way behind the target with the score on 139 for 2, needing 56 runs in the last five overs. They achieved it in style with six balls to spare with Lewis lofting Asitha Fernando for six in the last ball of the penultimate over and in the process racing to his ton.
The two teams made changes with Sri Lanka making two changes with Pathum Nissanka and Dilshan Madusanka returning to the side in place of Nishan Madushka and Dunith Wellalage. West Indies had three changes, bringing in Evin Lewis into the ODI team after a lapse of three years, 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, who made his debut, and pacie Matthew Forde replacing Alick Athanaze, Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh.
Earlier Sri Lanka, put into bat first, saw openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando making steady progress despite accumulating their runs at a slow pace. The pair posted the side’s 50 runs in 68 balls and they added further 31 runs for a stand of 81 runs before being separated with the dismissal of Fernando, who fell victim to spinner Roston Chase. He made 34 runs in 50 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and a six.
But a delivery after the fall of the wicket a heavy downpour put a stoppage to proceedings with Sri Lanka on 81 for 1 having faced 17.2 overs. The persistent rain stopped the match for a good period and the resumption after five hours, saw the overs reduced to 23 with Sri Lanka left with 5.4 overs to bat.
After the resumption Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis went on the rampage as the pair posted the side’s 100 runs, soon followed with Nissanka racing to his half ton. Nissanka faced 59 balls for his half ton that included seven boundaries and a six, which was his 15th in ODIs.
Mendis, at the other end, was making merry but Nissanka was able to add only another six runs before being unfortunately run out attempting to sneak a single. He was unable to beat Alzarri Joseph’s direct throw, but by then with Mendis he shared a valuable 57 runs in just 26 balls for the second wicket.
Sloppy fielding by the West Indies, who missed five catches, cost them a lot and Mendis, who was given a life when he was on 46 reached his half ton in style. That took him only 19 balls, nine boundaries and a six.
Skipper Charith Asalanka did not last long as he faced only three balls for his six runs before falling victim to Sherfane Rutherford. Sri Lanka, left with two balls to face, added four runs to post 156 for 3. Mendis remained unbeaten on 56 after facing 22 balls and hitting nine boundaries and a six.
| SCORECARD | |
| Sri Lanka Pathum Nissanka run out 56 Avishka Fernando c and b Chase 34 Kusal Mendis not out 56 Charith Asalanka c Carty b Rutherford 06 Kamindu Mendis not out 01 Extras (lb2, w1) 03 Total (3 wickets; 23 overs) 156 Did not bat: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Fernando, 17.1ov), 2-138 (Nissanka, 21.3ov), 3-152 (Asalanka, 22.4ov) Bowling: Matthew Forde 5-0-12-0, Alzarri Joseph 5-0-41-0, Jayden Seales 4-0-32-0, Gudakesh Motie 5-0-21-0, Roston Chase 2-0-20-1, Sherfane Rutherford 2-0-27-1
West Indies (target 195 runs in 23 overs) |