Sri Lanka beat rain and Windies
By Ranjan Anandappa in Pallekele
Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies in the third and final ODI here at
the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in a game disrupted and
curtailed by rain.
Sri Lanka’s target was 190 in 36 overs and reached 180 for 5 in 32.3
overs to win on the DL system.
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Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal is congratulated by
his teammates after taking the wicket of Andre Fletcher (Pic
by Rukmal Gamage) |
Earlier Marlon Samuels atoned for his early failures with the bat by
striking an unbeaten 110 and was also engaged in a last ditch 55-run
stand for the eight wicket with Carlos Brathwaite (18) to see West
Indies set a revised victory target of 190 in 36 overs after rain
reduced the quota of overs.
Samuels reached his 50 facing 51 deliveries with seven fours and
relentlessly proceeded without much alarm to his century defying an
attack which looked menacing at the initial stages of the match.
Marlon Samuels’ unbeaten century was compiled off 95 deliveries with
fifteen fours and a six.
Sri Lanka made just one change bringing in paceman Dushmantha
Chameera in place of Sachitra Senanayake and skipper Jason Holder came
back to the side with wicket keeper Denesh Ramdin.
Andre Russell did not take the field due to an injury which he
sustained during the second match at the R.Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first anticipating the
rain which came after twenty minutes of play.
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West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels drives a ball during his
century against Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI in
Pallekele yesterday
(Pic by Rukmal Gamage) |
Prior to that Lasith Malinga opening the attack in the second
delivery was driven for a four by Johnson Charles through the covers,
but in his next ball Charles pushed one firmly towards cover-point and
Dilshan accepted the catch.
From the other end Suranga Lakmal accounted for Andre Fletcher
trapping him leg-before wicket and also had Darren Bravo’s stumps
shuttered when the left hander did not offer a stroke to a delivery
which went in straight.
Once again the Windies were unable to get the required start that
they needed. Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera to a
certain extent had the Windies batsmen in a tangle all the time.
Jermaine Blackwood, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Jonathan Carter
all made their exits cheaply and it was left to Marlon Samuels along
with Jonathan Carter to stabilize the batting.
Samuels in atonement for his earlier failures stood firm belting
Suranga Lakmal for three fours in one over. Seventy one minutes of play
was lost due to rain and when play resumed the West Indian batting
debacle continued with Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal striking vital
blows.
At one stage the West Indians looked in a poor position at 12 for 2
in the fourth over. After the second break due to rain with the overs
reduced to 36 per side Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite in the quest
for quick runs got their act together.
Samuels and Brathwaite added 55 runs for the eight wicket off thirty
one deliveries as Samuels raced to his century.
Scores:
West Indies 190 in 36 overs (Marlon Samuels 110, L Malinga 2 for 43,
S Lakmal 2 for 40, D Chameera 2 for 39, Ajantha Mendis 2 for 51)
Sri Lanka 180 for 5 in 32.3 overs (Kusal Perera 50, TM Dilshan 21,
Dinesh Chandimal 23, Lahiru Thirimanne 21, Angelo Mathews 27 n.o,) |
