Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga held his nerves in a rip-roaring contest against West Indies and took his side to register a thrilling win in the first one-Day International (ODI) at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday.
🇱🇰 win by 1 wicket and take 1-0 lead in the 3-match series! This is the highest sucessful run chase at SSC.
SL 290/9 (49.1 ov) vs WI 289/7 #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/C5xhHYz0WI— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 22, 2020
Chasing 290, the Islanders had a dream start. The opening pair of Dimuth Karunaratne and Avishka Fernando added a 100-run partnership to take the game away from the visitors. Both the players reached their half-centuries before skipper Karunaratne fell for 52, followed by his partner Fernando who went back to the pavilion for 50.
No.3 Kusal Perara also supplemented his side with a 50-ball 42 runs knock. However, after the departure of the wicket-keeper batsman, the Lankan team came under pressure. Although, Thisara Perara did play a handy 32-run inning, but it wasn’t enough as Sri Lanka kept on losing the wickets at regular intervals.
The ‘Men in Maroon’ were getting closer to defend the score, but Hasaranga’s unbeaten 42-run cameo spoiled the party, and the hosts conquered a nail-biting game which went to the last over.
This game does break our hearts at times 💔 😫 How close was that🤯! WI soldier on to the next. #MenInMaroon🌴 #ItsOurGame #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/QxN38PRffc
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) February 22, 2020
Earlier, West Indies’ ‘Mr. Consistent’ Shai Hope performed just like his reputation in the 50-over-format. Last year’s third-highest run-scorer in ODIs smashed a steady hundred against the Lankans. It was his ninth in this format. He guided the tourists to post a competitive 289 in the contest.
Hope's Ninth ODI 💯. Uber cool innings 😎🙌🏽#MenInMaroon #ItsOurGame. pic.twitter.com/UAr3XDt91s
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) February 22, 2020
