SL vs WI : Charith Asalanka Plays A Captain’s Knock To Outclass The Mighty Caribbean

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A 137-run stand between Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka provided the base as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 232 in Pallekele, to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Charith Asalanka top-scored with a 71-ball 77, while Madushka finished with 69 off 54. Both departed unable to see the chase through, but considering the precarious position at which they had come together – 45 for 3 in the seventh over – they had done more than enough to ensure the win.

Riding on skipper Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka’s 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Sri Lanka made short work of a 232-run chase after the match was reduced to 37 overs per side. West Indies will have to think about their bowling plans a bit going into the second ODI as they failed to take the middle overs despite a good start in the second innings.

Pitch and Toss

Pitch Report : It’s a pleasant day, a dry day with a strong wind. 66m and 74m square boundaries – the cracks are visible and it’s a good call to bat first. The pitch is dry, the turn will be slow and dew would be a factor batting second, which will allow the ball to slide through. The new ball would zip through, but batting should become easier after 20 overs, reckons Russel Arnold, in his pitch report

Toss : West indies skipper Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bat with 2 new faces in the playing XI. Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka bowling first decided to go with 3 spinners and 1 fast bowlers alongside Nishan Madushka on debut in the playing XI.

Sherfane Rutherford’s 74 not out carries WI to 185 for 4 in 38.3 overs before rains intervene the game

West Indies opted to bat and made a steady start, with the Sri Lankan bowlers keeping things tight with the new ball against the likes of Brandon King and Alick Athanaze. All the built-up pressure led to a first-ball wicket by Wanindu Hasaranga, who bowled King with the wrong ‘un before accounting for Athanaze in his next.

It didn’t help that Shai Hope, who usually holds the innings together after shaky starts, was adjudged LBW to Jeffrey Vandersay soon after, with Sri Lanka smartly reviewing the on-field call and getting the decision in their favour. At 54 for 3, the visitors looked a bit shaky but a 46-run stand between Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford (74*) helped steady the ship.

West Indies Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
Even though Rutherford lost Carty to a mishit in the 26th over, he kept at it and brought up his fifty off 64 balls with a six off Charith Asalanka. He found support in Roston Chase, who added 84 runs for the fifth wicket with his run-a-ball 33* before the rains arrived and cut the innings short at 38.3 overs, leaving the opposition chasing a revised target after a delay of nearly three-and-a-half hours.
Earlier, Sherfane Rutherford’s counterattack had been cut short by rain to bring to a premature close the West Indies innings on 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs.

West Indies’ best period of the game had occurred much earlier. Prior to the rain intervention, they had been in the process of regaining some lost momentum with Rutherford and Chase in the middle of an 85-run fifth-wicket stand off 78 deliveries.

Wanindu Hasaranga had taken two wickets, while Jeffrey Vandersay and Asalanka had one apiece. But on a dry Pallekele surface, West Indies knew a trial by spin was always on the cards after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Dunith Wellalage was into the attack as early as the fifth over – and even before that medium pacer Liyanage had resorted to offcutters on a hard length – while spin was in effect from both ends not long after.

Sri Lanka Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lanka Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo

Despite a promising opening stand it wasn’t long before West Indies had stumbled to 54 for 3, with Rutherford joining Keacy Carty in the middle, and the scoring rate now hovering at around four an over. It was during this period that Sri Lanka’s spinners took total control, as West Indies were content to play it safe, racking up numerous dot deliveries, and picking up the odd ones and twos.

A Rutherford cut for four in the 17th over was the first West Indies boundary in 47 deliveries; by the traditional halfway point of 25 overs, they had inched to 94 for 3. It was here that a frustrated Carty unleashed a powerful one-handed loft over long-on for six to break the shackles somewhat, but that relief was short-lived as he fell going for a repeat performance the very next delivery. That brought to an end a 46-run partnership – the West Indies’ best of the innings until that point.

But with the dependable Chase alongside him, Rutherford continued as before, picking off singles and attempting to pounce on any rare loose deliveries. But as their confidence grew and a persistent drizzle greased the surface, the pair struck 43 in the last five overs they faced. With the death overs still to come, a total in the region of 275 was on the cards. But then the rains came.

Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka 137 runs partnership guides SL to 5 wicket win.

In reply, Sri Lanka got off to a shaky start, with Alzarri Joseph picking up the crucial wickets of Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis within the first four overs. They were reeling at 45 for 3 when Charith Asalanka and Nishan Madushka steadied the innings with a 137-run partnership that took the game away from the visitors. Both batters showed great intent, capitalizing on the wet outfield and loose deliveries from the West Indian bowlers.

Charith Asalanka hit a 44-ball fifty, hitting a couple of sixes off Chase and Romario Shepherd along the way, whereas Madushka got to the milestone off 44 balls, marking his foray into ODI cricket in style.

Though West Indies tried to stage a comeback with Gudakesh Motie (3 for 47) who dismissed both Charith Asalanka and Madushka, the damage had already been done. Kamindu Mendis (30*) and Janith Liyanage (18*) ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding Sri Lanka to victory. Mendis sealed the win in style, smashing a six off Jayden Seales to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo 1st
Sri Lanka Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo 1st

But even with that caveat, the way Sri Lanka approached their chase made them well worth their victory. Madushka, making his debut in place of the injured Pathum Nissanka, opened the innings alongside Avishka Fernando but by the time he faced his fifth delivery in ODI cricket, Sri Lanka had found themselves already two down.

Avishka drove a widish delivery straight to point, while Kusal Mendis – who had looked in good nick with a trio of enterprising boundaries – top-edged an attempted pull. This brought Sadeera Samarawickrama to the crease, and he wasted little time taking the initiative, striking Jayden Seales for three boundaries in the fifth over of the chase.

With the threat of rain looming, Sri Lanka’s game plan was clear – get ahead of the DLS equation. But when Sadeera fell, courtesy an absolute peach from Motie that knocked back off stump, Sri Lanka were suddenly at the risk of letting the game slip into dangerous territory – even with the safety of being able to bat until No 9.

But if those watching on were feeling nervous, Sri Lanka’s skipper hardly let it show. Off just the second delivery he faced he swept Motie for four, before driving him exquisitely through the covers an over later. Madushka, who up until this point was content to turn over the strike to his more aggressive partners, finally notched his first boundary in the 10th over.

West Indies Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo

And this partnership scarcely took the foot off the gas as the West Indies struggled to maintain tight lines and lengths. Between the 10th and 20th over only two overs didn’t contain a boundary, as Sri Lanka racked up 72 runs in that period. And the scoring only accelerated from that point on, with a further 41 runs scored between overs 20-25.

Madushka eventually edged to slip, with Asalanka following shortly after trapped leg before – both off Motie – but the required run rate had dropped to nearly four an over by that point, and any peril long since neutralized.

West Indies had most of Sri Lanka’s top-order back in the hut by the seventh over with Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie bowling well in tandem to peg the hosts back early in the run-chase. Just when Sri Lanka desperately needed a partnership, debutant Madushka found an able ally in captain Asalanka. The duo was aggressive alright. The rescue act felt like two men on a mission as they didn’t let the West Indies bowlers have much say.

The 50-run partnership was up in around 45 balls and Sri Lanka never looked back from then point on. West Indies bowlers erred in their lines and lengths quite a bit as they failed to understand what was the best channel as both Madushka and Charith Asalanka got comfortable after a point.

Both completed their fifties and brought up a century-run stand. Sri Lanka were running away with the game and West Indies just didn’t have any answers to a neatly calculated partnership and run-chase by the left-right duo.

West Indies finally got the breakthrough after 18 overs, however, Sri Lanka had run away with the game by then. Motie continued his good form and sent back both Charith Asalanka and Madushka but it was too little too late as Kamindu Mendis and Liyanage provided the finishing touches.

A 137-run stand between Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka provided the base as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 232 in Pallekele, to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Charith Asalanka top-scored with a 71-ball 77, while Madushka finished with 69 off 54. Both departed unable to see the chase through, but considering the precarious position at which they had come together – 45 for 3 in the seventh over – they had done more than enough to ensure the win.

Kamindu Mendis was there at the end to see the win through, with an unbeaten 30 off 21, and alongside him was Janith Liyanage on a run-a-ball 18. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, with figures of 3 for 47, while Alzarri Joseph grabbed two. Despite having reinforced their spin reserves in preparation for a dry Pallekele surface, none were able to offer as much penetration as Motie.

While Motie too went at over six an over he at least posed a wicket-taking threat. This was not something the pair of Roston Chase and Hayden Walsh Jr. could boast, as they gave up 80 runs in the 10 overs between them.

Presentations and Road Ahead

Shai Hope the loosing WI skipper said : (On the weather) It’s something we can’t control, we have to focus on what we can focus on, have to make sure we do well in the next game. The guys showed a bit of intent at the backend of the innings. Sherfane played really well, we need to take a leaf out of his book. (Bowling with a wet ball) It was challenging, every time you bowl it was tough, especially for the spinners. We have to do better next time and find ways to get wickets.

Charith Asalanka the winning skipper and Player of the Match said : Thank you so much, it was a convincing win and we batted really well. First, my plan was to attack from the outset, played with a positive mindset. I think me and Nishan batted well.

I think more than 15 overs we got a chance with the wet ball, they couldn’t grip the ball properly and myself and Nishan did well. It was a good innings from Nishan, it’s a positive headache to have. (Replacement player for the injured Nissanka)

A dominant batting performance from Sri Lanka has enabled them to sail through to victory. The Sri Lankan spinners were on the money – Hasaranga in particular was penetrative and was their standout bowler. WI were in a spot of bother at 100/4 but the duo of Rutherford and Chase batted extremely well to provide their side momentum. Rutherford was looking dangerous before rain played spoilsport. There was around a 3 and a half hour delay and that meant that WI couldn’t play out their allotted quota of overs.

SL were set a target of 232 in 37 overs as per DLS. Alzarri picked up a couple of early wickets and soon after, Motie weaved his magic to knock over Samarawickrama with a peach. But, Madushka and Asalanka got together and batted brilliantly. Both of them capitalized on the loose deliveries and were aided by the wet outfield.

The ball wasn’t doing much and both of them made merry. Both of them struck fifties and stitched a 137-run stand to take the game away from WI. Both of them departed in quick succession but the damage was done by then. Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis ensured there weren’t any further hiccups and took their side home with 31 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka have continued their momentum from the T20I series to go 1-0 up in the 3-match ODI series. An impressive all-round performance from the home side. West Indies, on the contrary, have a lot of scope for improvement. Their top-order looked jittery against the spinners and failed. Rutherford was brilliant with the bat but a lone effort usually doesn’t win you games in ODI cricket.

While this was down to a combination of errant bowling and ruthless batting, the West Indian spinners were also impacted by a wet ball as a result of a wet outfield. The rain also meant that the pitch had become easier to bat on by the time Sri Lanka took lease of the wicket.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 

 

 


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