BALAGOLLA, Sri Lanka, CMC – Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka both scored brisk half-centuries to help their side register a five-wicket win over West Indies in the opening, rain-affected One Day International at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The West Indies, buoyed by an 85-run partnership between Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase, reached 185 for four off 38.3 overs before heavy rains forced the players off the pitch.
When play finally restarted over three hours later, a decision was taken to bring the Windies’ innings to an end and Sri Lanka was set a revised target of 232 in 37 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
The home side then comfortably romped to victory with 31 balls to spare, finishing on 234 for five, to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.
It was an unfortunate end to the match for the West Indies, who were just beginning to find their groove when the heavens opened up.
The visitors found themselves in early trouble when leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga bowled Brandon King for 14 and had Alick Athanaze stumped for 10 to leave them 41 for two in the 10th over.
Captain Shai Hope’s lean run of form continued when he was trapped lbw by off-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay after scoring just five runs, as the Windies slipped to 54 for three.
Keacy Carty found a dependable partner in Rutherford and the pair added 46 runs to carry their team to triple figures.
But one ball after hitting Asalanka down the ground for six, Carty tried to repeat the shot but picked out Dunith Wellalage at long-on to be out for 37 and the score 100 for four.
It was the last wicket the West Indies would lose as Rutherford and Roston Chase frustrated Sri Lanka’s spinners with intelligent batting.
Rutherford was patient early on, requiring eight balls to get off the mark, but once he found his timing he dazzled with an array of strokes.
After hitting Vandersay for a four and six in consecutive overs, he moved into his 40s by dispatching Asalanka over deep midwicket for six.
He then brought up his half-century off 64 balls when he pulled Asalanka for another six in the 34th over.
While they didn’t hit a plethora of boundaries, the pair kept the runs ticking over with quick running between the wickets, as they worked the ball around the ground for twos and singles.
Needing to score at around six runs an over, Sri Lanka also suffered early setbacks.
Avishka Fernando scored five before he drove pacer Alzarri Joseph straight to Roston Chase at backward point, and Sri Lanka stumbled to 22 for two when Kusal Mendis was caught behind by wicketkeeper Shai Hope after his attempted pull ballooned into the air.
Sadeera Samarawickrama was then bowled by spinner Gudakesh Motie to put West Indies in control at 45 for three in the seventh over.
However, Asalanka and Madushka came together in a 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket to wrestle the initiative away from the visitors.
Hope used a variety of bowlers in an attempt to break the stand, but could not do so until it was too late.
Asalanka brought up his 50 off 44 balls when he scrambled three runs after guiding Chase to third man and Madushka brought up his 50 on debut when he steered the same bowler to square leg for a single two overs later.
The pair seemed set to take Sri Lanka over the line, but after hitting Motie for two boundaries in the 25th over, Madushka was caught by King at slip to be out for 69 with Sri Lanka well poised at 182 for four in the 25th over.
Motie also dismissed Asalanka five runs later for a well-played 77 from 71 balls, but Janith Liyanage, who finished unbeaten on 18 from 18 balls and Kamindu Mendis who hit 30 from 31 balls, led Sri Lanka to a comfortable victory.
The second ODI will be on Wednesday at the same venue.
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