Even a magnificent 148-run knock by Evin Lewis was not enough to take West Indies home as Sri Lanka held their nerves to win the match by one run in the tri-series encounter at Bulawayo on Wednesday (November 23).
Chasing a huge total of 331 runs, West Indies needed 10 runs from the final over to seal their spot in the tri-series final. However, Jason Holder’s men could manage only nine runs as Upul Tharanga-led Sri Lanka registered a place in the final.
Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis gave the Carribeans a flying start in their pursuit of chasing a 300+ score for the first time in One-Day Internationals. Their partnership of 63 runs off only 48 balls was ended when Charles was dismissed for 26 by Suranga Lakmal. But the setback did not stop Lewis from playing his aggressive game. The opener also had the lady luck on his side as he survived an LBW review in the very first over, was dropped four overs later by Kusal Mendis and got an LBW decision overturned shortly after registering his maiden ODI fifty in only 41 balls.
While Lewis was playing his shots all around the park, his partner Kraigg Brathwaite was more than happy to play second fiddle to Lewis. Brathwaite’s resistance, however, did not last long as he was bowled by Asela Gunaratne after scoring 16 runs off 33 balls. Next to join Lewis in the middle was Shai Hope, who scored a century in the previous game against Zimbabwe. Both of them added 42 runs for the third wicket before Lewis tried to steal a double and Hope was run-out by a direct hit from Nuwan Pradeep. But the dismissal did not affect Lewis as he went on to register his maiden ODI century. He was once again reprieved when on 114 he survived a run-out chance.
The opener made sure to punish the islanders for their mistake as he went on to make 148 off 122 balls. In between, he was involved in another run-out as Jonathan Carter was dismissed by a direct hit from Upul Tharanga. Lewis’ innings finally ended in the most ironic manner as he himself was run-out. But by then, he had set a solid platform for his team to chase down the total. At the time of his dismissal, West Indies needed 69 off 57 balls. With Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite at the crease, the target was looking very much within their reach. Sri Lanka’s poor fielding once again came back to haunt them as Brathwaite was dropped on three by Tharanga. The duo then added 45 runs off 41 balls for the seventh wicket and just when it looked like they would run away with the match, Brathwaite was undone by a brilliant yorker from Nuwan Kulasekara.
Jason Holder’s men needed three runs off the final three deliveries to win the match after Sulieman Benn dispatched the third ball of the over for six. However, the lanky spinner failed to score off the next ball and was out on the penultimate delivery to leave his skipper score three runs off the final ball. But Holder could manage only one run as Sri Lanka came out on top in the thriller.
Earlier, half-centuries from Dhananjaya de Silva (58), Niroshan Dickwella (94) and Kusal Mendis (94) helped the Sri Lankans post 330 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Jason Holder was the most successful bowler for his team with 3/57 off his 10 overs.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s opponent in the final will be decided after the game between West Indies and Zimbabwe on Friday.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 330 for 7 (Dickwella 94, Kusal Mendis 94, Dhananjaya de Silva 58, Holder 3-57) beat West Indies 329 for 9 (Lewis 148, Holder 45*, Lakmal 2-67, Kulasekara 2-73) by one run