Ton-up Nicholas Pooran (118 off 103 balls) played the innings of his life but Angelo Mathews delivered the ball of the match to get his wicket and help Sri Lanka to a 23-run victory over the West Indies in a thrilling World Cup clash at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on Monday.
The 339-run chase looked dead and buried in the 35th over when Carlos Brathwaite got out but the 23-year-old Pooran almost single-handedly took his team home. Have to feel for the youngster but had he received some more support from the other end, the West Indies might have ended on the winning side.
Earlier, Avishka Fernando’s maiden ODI century helped Sri Lanka post 338/6. Fernando scored 104 off 103 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 338/6 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 104, Kusal Perera 64; Holder 2/59); West Indies: 315/9 in 50 overs (Nicholas Pooran 118, Fabien Allen 51; Lasith Malinga 3/55).
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Loved this fight of the West Indies , they fell short but was a tremendous spirited chase. Chasing 140 with 4 wickets in hand in 15 overs is never easy but Nicholas Pooran gave SL a run for their money. Congratulations to SL on the win #SLvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 1, 2019
Got to love the West Indies. Even when the target is seemingly beyond reach, they keep going for it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 1, 2019
Unlike India !!! https://t.co/24SIIDFKkh
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 1, 2019
I hope we saw the initial maturing of theee fine young cricketers today. Their future success is not guaranteed; but Nicholas Pooran, Fabien Allen & Avishka Fernando showed us that the game has a bright future. #ICCCWC2019 WI vs SL.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 1, 2019
Congratulations to Sri Lanka on the win. Avishka Fernando played beautifully for his century. A really spirited run-chase by the West Indies. The three run outs hurt them badly but a wonderful effort from Pooran and Fabian Allen. #WIvSL
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 1, 2019
Sixth defeat for the West Indies in #CWC19. Their worst performance in a #CWC edition. In the 2007 edition (at home) and they lost five, but won four. In #CWC2019 they so far could manage just one win!#SLvWI #WIvSL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 1, 2019
Avishka Fernando (21y 87d)
Nicholas Pooran (23y 272d)This is the first time two players aged less than 25 years scored centuries in a World Cup game. #CWC19 #WIvSL
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 1, 2019
Great knock by #avishka .see a bright future for him. Hope Sri Lanka nurtures him #cwc19 #SLvsWI
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) July 1, 2019
Congratulations boys. What an inning from young AVISHKA fernando. He delivered at right time. @thiri66 and @KusalJPerera did wel. Most valuable and most precious over and ball balled by @Angelo69Mathews. @Lasith99Malinga simply outstanding.@IamDimuth @OfficialSLC
— Dhammika Prasad (@imDhammika) July 1, 2019
Well played young man.. Brilliant 100!! Something special from Avishka. 👍
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) July 1, 2019
