Hosts Sri Lanka completed a clean sweep in the three-match ODI series against West Indies, with their narrow six-run win at Pallekele on Sunday. West Indies are yet to win on Sri Lankan soil since their 33-run win against the Islanders, back in August 2005.
The hosts won the evenly contested match on the back of their marquee all-rounder Angelo Matthews, who brought back time with his three-dimensional prowesses.
Sri Lanka, who thumped Windies by a massive margin of 161 runs in the previous game and clinched the series already, won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final encounter.
Contributions throughout the batting lineup propelled the Sri Lankan total to another 300+ score (307). Kusal Mendis (55 off 38) and Dhananjaya de Silva (51 off 38) starred with the bat, as both notched up their half-centuries.
The foundation was set up by Kusal Perera and captain Dimuth Karunaratne who both scored 44 each. Despite being expensive in his spell, Alzarri Joseph ended up with four wickets to shine for West Indies.
Kusal Mendis reached his fifty in the 31st over, Windies dismissed both the Kusal's within next two overs SL 186/4 (33ovs) #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/8Ow2uBRmO5
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 1, 2020
Shai Hope’s consistent run of form since 2018 continued as he anchored the run chase with yet another trademark knock of 72. He was ably supported by fellow opener Sunil Ambris, who scored a handy 60, scoring at run-a-ball.
At one point in time, the visitors were cruising through their chase, with a score of 218-2 and more than ten overs to go.
However, it all went wrong for the Carribeans as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Fabian Allen sparkling knock of 37 from just 15 balls kept the interest in the match as he brought his team at the cusp of a victory (301-9).
It was Sri Lanka’s veteran all-rounder who arrived when his team needed him the most. Matthews took the important scalps of Nicholas Pooran (50 off 61) and Kieron Pollard (49 off 50) balls just as they were beginning to step on the accelerator.
Later, he dismissed the dangerous-looking Allen, who almost took the visitors to an improbable victory. Matthews ended his decisive spell at 4-59 when the rest of the Sri Lankan pacers were finding it difficult to contain the West Indies batsmen.
🇱🇰 🏆 🎖️ ️🎉️ #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/sACDqcHjxn
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 1, 2020
He then walked away with the Man of the Match title, while Wanindu Hasaranga was awarded the Man of the Series Trophy. West Indies now have everything to play for in the upcoming two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on March 4 and March 6.
