Sri Lanka clinch ODI series with five-wicket victory over West Indies

BALAGOLLA, Sri Lanka (CMC):

SRI LANKA secured an ODI series win over the West Indies with a commanding five-wicket victory in a rain-shortened second match at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday.

The visitors are now 2-0 down in the three-match series with the final game set for Saturday.

A superb bowling display led by Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40), Maheesh Theekshana (3-25), and Asitha Fernando (3-35) saw the visitors bowled out for 189 in a match reduced to 44 overs per side.

Captain Charith Asalanka then guided Sri Lanka home with a composed half-century, sealing the win with 5.4 overs to spare.

Sent in to bat after a lengthy rain delay, the West Indies struggled against the new ball. Alick Athanaze was bowled early by Theekshana for one, while Asitha Fernando removed Brandon King (16) and Shai Hope (5) in consecutive overs.

Theekshana, continuing his fine spell, bowled Keacy Carty for six to leave the West Indies in tatters at 31-4.

Hasaranga then spun a web around the lower order, dismissing Roston Chase with a googly for eight and Romario Shepherd with a clever leg break for four.

Theekshana returned to send Hayden Walsh back to the pavilion for just a single, and with West Indies floundering at 58-8, it was then time for the Rutherford and Motie show.

Rutherford looked assured in scoring 80 off 82 balls while Motie brought up his maiden ODI half century scoring an unbeaten 50 off 61 balls to stage a stunning counterattack.

The Guyanese pair added 119 runs for the ninth wicket, with Rutherford, riding his luck after being dropped twice. Their resilience pushed the West Indies to 189, giving them a fighting chance.

Rutherford’s valiant effort ended when he flicked a full toss from Fernando to deep mid-wicket. Hasaranga wrapped up the innings by dismissing Jayden Seales for five with a googly.

In response, Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily. Alzarri Joseph struck early to dismiss Avishka Fernando for nine, and Kusal Mendis soon followed, bowled by Motie for three.

But a solid 62-run third-wicket partnership between Nishan Madushka (38) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (38) steadied the ship.

Both batters fell as Sri Lanka approached the target, but Asalanka’s unbeaten 62, scored at a run-a-ball, ensured a comfortable victory for the hosts.