NORTH SOUND – West Indies will chase 233 to win the first One-day International against Sri Lanka in Antigua.
Windies overcame a strong start from openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Dimuth Karuratne to dismiss the Sri Lankans for 233 in 49 overs, after they chose to bat in the opening contest of a three-match series at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
But the unusual dismissal of Gunathilaka obstructing the field changed the course of the Sri Lankan innings and overshadowed a resilient performance in the field from the Caribbean side.
West Indies were put on the back-foot when Gunathilaka and Karuratne put on 105 for the first wicket with little trouble before their captain Kieron Pollard made the breakthrough that started the unravelling of the Sri Lankan innings.
Pollard performed a series of acrobatics to hold a return catch to remove his opposite Karuratne for 52 in the 20th over before he triggered the sequence of events that led to the dismissal of Gunathilaka in the 22nd over.
A delivery from Pollard was played by Gunathilaka was played just off the pitch and non-striker Pathum Nissanka charged down the pitch for a single and had reached the point of no return when he sent back.
Pollard tried to retrieve the ball to try to complete a run out of Nissanka, but Gunathilaka back-heeled the ball in retreating, preventing the Windies captain from collecting it.
Umpire Joel Wilson referred a decision to the TV umpire Nigel Duguid and a bemused Gunathilaka was adjudged out for obstruction of the field.
It was a fortunate break for West Indies because Gunathilaka looked in firm control at the time and his dismissal brought instability to the rest of the visitors’ batting and they lost their last eight wickets for 93, only an even 50 from Ashen Bandara saving them from despair.
The two Jasons were the pick of the Windies bowlers. Mohammed took two for 12 from four overs and Holder grabbed two for 39 from his full allotment of 10 overs.
Summarised scores:
SRI LANKA 232 all out off 49 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 55, Dimuth Karuratne 52, Ashen Bandara 50, Lakshan Sandakan 16 not out, Dinesh Chandimal 12; Jason Mohammed 2-12, Jason Holder 2-39) vs WEST INDIES.
(AR)
