3rd ODI
Evin Lewis’s century has secured a consolation victory for the West Indies
Sri Lanka scored 156/3 in 23 overs, where as West Indies scored 196/2 in 22 overs.
So, finally West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets (DLS Method).
Evin Lewis struck four sixes and nine fours in a blistering 61-ball 102, leading West Indies to a consolation win in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which was yet another rain-affected match in Pallekele.
Sherfane Rutherford complemented Lewis’s century with a rapid 50 off 26 balls.
Sri Lanka set a target of 195 based on the DLS method after posting 156 for 3 in their 23 overs.
Despite losing Brandon King and Shai Hope early, Lewis and Rutherford powered West Indies to victory with an over to spare and eight wickets in hand.
Sri Lanka’s innings began cautiously, with openers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka putting together 47 runs without loss in the first 10 overs.
Nissanka capitalized on a missed catch by King in the first over, helping to guide Sri Lanka forward.
As rain threatened, the pair advanced to 81 for no loss after 17 overs.
However, Fernando fell to Roston Chase on the first ball of the 18th over, and rain forced a lengthy delay of nearly five hours.
When play resumed, Kusal Mendis seized the opportunity, smashing four consecutive fours off Chase.
Nissanka reached his fifty, while Mendis quickly raced to 56 off just 22 balls, hitting nine fours and a six as Sri Lanka added 75 runs in just 5.4 overs post-rain.
The revised target left West Indies in a challenging position, possibly facing a 3-0 series defeat.
West Indies struggled early on, with King falling to Asitha Fernando in the sixth over.
Lewis and Shai Hope helped the team reach 76 for 1 in 10 overs, still behind the required rate.
Lewis reached his fifty off 34 balls, but Hope’s struggle ended when he was dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka in the 15th over, which unexpectedly provided a boost as Rutherford joined Lewis.
The two batters advanced the score to 125 for 2 in 17 overs, needing 70 runs off the final 36 balls.
They applied pressure, with Rutherford hitting three fours off Charith Asalanka in a 14-run 18th over, followed by 18 runs off Theekshana, which brought the target down to 38 runs from 24 balls.
They smartly took singles and worked the ball around, with Lewis hitting a six to enter the 90s.
With 15 runs needed from 12 balls, Rutherford hit a massive six over long-on, and Lewis fittingly closed the game with a straight six, securing his remarkable century.
Leave a Reply