Sri Lanka beats West Indies 2-1 in a rain hit but entertaining ODI series

 

After winning the T20I series 2-1 , Sri Lanka scripted a superb ODI series win over the visiting West Indies  by the identical 2-1 margin but had sealed the series in the 2nd game itself with an unassailable 2-0 lead . The Sri Lankan batting performed well as a team to reach all stiff DLS targets and the captain led from the front with two scintillating consecutive 50s. The visitors won the 3rd ODI , the consolation win coming on the back of a breathtaking 102 off 61 balls by Evin Lewis who was making a return to ODI team after 3 years .

Brief summary of the 3 ODIs 

1st ODI: Sri Lanka Triumphs in Rain-Affected Match

Captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka both scored half-centuries to lead Sri Lanka to victory in a rain-adjusted first ODI against the West Indies at Pallekele, winning by five wickets.

Chasing a revised target of 232 in 37 overs after an interruption, Asalanka and Madushka forged a 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket, steadying the innings after Sri Lanka stumbled to 45 for 3. Asalanka struck 77 off 71 balls, hitting three sixes and eight fours, while Madushka contributed a brisk 69 off 54 balls. Both fell in quick succession, reducing Sri Lanka to 187 for 5, but Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage held firm to guide the team home.

The West Indies, choosing to bat first, were 185 for 4 in 38.3 overs when rain halted play. With the game unable to resume, Sri Lanka was set a revised target through the DLS method. Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase, unbeaten on 74 and 33, had helped rebuild the innings from 54 for 3 before the weather intervened.

2nd ODI: Asalanka’s Resilience Secures Series Victory

Sri Lanka clinched the series with a five-wicket win in the second ODI, led by an unbeaten half-century from skipper Charith Asalanka. Chasing 190 in a rain-shortened 44-over match, Asalanka's composed 62 off 61 balls saw Sri Lanka reach the target with 34 balls remaining.

After an early rain delay, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets but were stabilized by a third-wicket partnership of 62 between Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who both scored 38. Asalanka then guided the team to victory, sharing a 55-run partnership with Janith Liyanage for the fifth wicket. This was Asalanka's second consecutive fifty, following his 77 in the first ODI. The win sealed a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, marking Sri Lanka's fifth bilateral ODI series win of the year and extending their unbeaten home streak to ten series.

3rd ODI: Lewis Powers West Indies to Consolation Victory

Evin Lewis returned to ODIs with a spectacular unbeaten century, propelling the West Indies to an eight-wicket win in the rain-hit third and final ODI, preventing a Sri Lankan series sweep.

In pursuit of a revised target of 195 in 23 overs, Lewis smashed an unbeaten 102 off 61 balls, including nine fours and four sixes, reaching the mark with a powerful six to seal the win. 

The West Indies had struggled with Sri Lanka's spinners throughout the series, but Lewis’ fifth ODI century provided much-needed firepower. Sherfane Rutherford’s third consecutive half-century also played a pivotal role, as he and Lewis added an unbroken 88-run partnership for the third wicket.

Earlier, Kusal Mendis had ignited Sri Lanka’s innings with a 19-ball fifty, guiding them to 156 for 3. His explosive play included nine fours and a six, helping set an elevated target through the DLS method. Pathum Nissanka contributed a solid 56 off 62 balls before being run out. However, Sri Lanka’s fielding lapses and dropped catches allowed the West Indies to claim a consolation victory. The game also saw 17-year-old Jewel Andrew debut for the West Indies, marking him as the youngest West Indian ODI player.

The series concluded with Sri Lanka taking the series 2-1, highlighting a competitive matchup with individual heroics on both sides.