NORTH SOUND – Roddy Estwick will probably be a happy man now, after he got his wish fulfilled by West Indies.
The Windies assistant coach challenged his side before the start of this series of three One-day Internationals against Sri Lanka to complete a clean sweep.
Daren Bravo not only obliged Estwick, but he reminded his detractors about his class with his fourth ODI hundred to set the foundation for a successful chase of 275 in the final match of the series.
Bravo cracked five fours and four sixes in 102 from 132 balls and shared two major stands with the indefatigable Shai Hope and his captain Kieron Pollard to anchor the Caribbean side to a five-wicket win.
On another docile Sir Vivian Richards Stadium pitch, Hope made 64 from 72 balls – his sixth successive score of 50 or more in ODIs and making him the only choice for Player-of-the-Series – and Pollard supported with 53 not out from 42 balls to take charge in the closing stages.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein grabbed three for 33 from 10 overs to be pick of the West Indies bowlers, but Wanindu Hasaranga, batting at eight, and Ashen Bandara led a recovery for Sri Lanka with career-best knocks.
The Windies had the Sri Lankans on the ropes at 151 for six in the 32nd over, but the Caribbean side’s “death bowling” was weak.
Hasaranga and Bandara put on 123 – unbroken – for the seventh wicket and propelled the visitors to 274 for six from their allocation of 50 overs, after they were sent in to bat.
For the second straight match, the Caribbean side had a tight grip on proceedings before Hasaranga came to the crease and loosened it with an unbeaten 80 and Bandara supported him with 55 not out.
The two sides will next meet in the first Test, starting next Sunday at the same venue.
Summarised scores:
SRI LANKA 274 for six off 50 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 80 not out, Ashen Bandara 55 not out, Danushka Gunathilaka 36, Dimuth Karunaratne 31, Pathum Nissanka 24, Dasun Shanaka 22, Dinesh Chandimal 16; Akeal Hosein 3-33).
WEST INDIES 276 for five off 48.3 overs (Daren Bravo 102, Shai Hope 64, Kieron Pollard 53 not out, Nicholas Pooran 15, Jason Holder 14 not out, Evin Lewis 13; Suranga Lakmal 2-56).
(AR)
