Sri Lanka Triumph in Rain-Hit Thriller to Take 1-0 Lead Over West Indies
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| Charith Asalanka of the Sri Lankan team was named the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. / Getty |
In a rain-affected first ODI, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by five wickets against West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The game, held at Colombo, saw a thrilling contest where the hosts successfully chased down a revised target of 232 in 37 overs, set by the DLS method.
West Indies, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, got off to a shaky start. The top order struggled as Alick Athanaze (10 off 20) and Brandon King (14 off 25) were dismissed cheaply during the powerplay. Sri Lankan bowlers maintained pressure, with skipper Shai Hope also falling for just 5 runs in the 13th over.
The visitors found some stability through Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford, who managed to build a solid 46-run partnership in the middle overs. Carty contributed a crucial 37 before Charith Asalanka trapped him in front, but Rutherford continued his strong form. Along with Roston Chase (33* off 33), Rutherford guided West Indies to a competitive position. He reached his second ODI fifty, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 74 off 82 balls. However, the innings was cut short by rain after 38.3 overs, leaving the visitors at 185/4.
Once play resumed after a three-hour rain delay, the target for Sri Lanka was revised to 232 in 37 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga (2/33) was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, while Asalanka and Jeffrey Vandersay also chipped in with a wicket each.
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| West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a target of 185/4 in 38.3 overs, with Sherfane Rutherford scoring 74* off 82 balls / Getty |
In response, Sri Lanka’s top order faced an early collapse. Avishka Fernando (5 off 7), Kusal Mendis (13 off 8), and Sadeera Samarawickrama (18 off 12) fell within the first eight overs, leaving the hosts in trouble at 43/3. However, the experienced Charith Asalanka (77 off 71) and debutant Nishan Madushka (69 off 54) took charge.
The duo rebuilt the innings, capitalizing on a wet outfield that hindered West Indies' bowlers. Both batters reached their half-centuries, with Madushka achieving his in his first ODI appearance. Their partnership put Sri Lanka back on track before Gudakesh Motie dismissed them in quick succession, ending the stand at a crucial juncture.
Despite the late dismissals, Janith Liyanage (18* off 18) and Kamindu Mendis (30* off 21) played with composure, steering Sri Lanka to victory in the 36th over with five wickets in hand.
Gudakesh Motie was the standout bowler for West Indies, taking 3/42, while Alzarri Joseph picked up two wickets. However, their efforts were not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from claiming the first win of the series.
With this victory, Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 and will look to carry the momentum into the second ODI, while West Indies aim to regroup and bounce back.
Next Match: 2nd ODI – Sri Lanka vs West Indies
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| The 1st ODI match between Sri Lanka (SL) and West Indies (WI) was played on a rain-affected day, with Sri Lanka winning by 5 wickets using the DLS method. / Getty |
Brief Score:
West Indies: 185/4 in 38.3 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 74*, Keacy Carty 37, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/33)
Sri Lanka: 233/5 in 35.3 overs (Charith Asalanka 77, Nishan Madushka 69, Gudakesh Motie 3/42)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (DLS method) to lead the series 1-0.