New Delhi. With the help of Evin Lewis’ unbeaten 102 runs, West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-affected third and final One Day International cricket match on Saturday. However, Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Lewis, playing his first ODI international since 2021, completed his fifth century in 61 balls with a six and took the team to the target. This opening batsman continued playing despite twisting his ankle on the score of 51 runs.
Batting first, Sri Lanka had scored 156 runs for three wickets but after this the play was stopped for five hours due to rain and the match was reduced to 23 overs. West Indies got the target of 195 runs and the team won by scoring 196 runs for two wickets in 22 overs. Pathum Nissanka (56) and Avishka Fernando (34), the two openers who gave life to Sri Lanka, gave a good start by adding 81 runs in 17 hours for the first wicket. After this the game had to be stopped due to rain.
When the game started again, Kusal Mendis (56 not out) hit fours on the first four balls. Nissanka completed his 15th half-century in 58 balls before being run out. Mendis scored a half-century in just 19 balls. He also got two leases of life. Facing 22 balls, he hit nine fours and one six.
While chasing the target, West Indies lost the wicket of Brendan King (16) at the score of 36 runs. Lewis and captain Shai Hope (22) capped the innings by adding 72 runs for the second wicket. After Hope’s dismissal, Lewis and Sherfane Rutherford (50 not out, 26 balls, four fours, three sixes) took charge and led the team to victory with one over remaining. Rutherford completed his fourth half-century in just 26 balls.
Tags: West Indies vs Sri Lanka
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 27, 2024, 11:19 IST