Sri Lanka Dominate West Indies in Rain-Shortened ODI Opener
Sri Lanka’s dominance continued as they secured a resounding five-wicket victory in the rain-affected first ODI against the West Indies in Pallekele. Captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka played pivotal roles with impressive half-centuries.
Chasing a revised target of 232 in 37 overs, Sri Lanka faced an early setback, losing three wickets for 45 runs. However, Asalanka’s arrival at the crease sparked a remarkable turnaround. He forged a formidable partnership with Madushka, amassing 137 runs for the fourth wicket at a rapid pace.
Both Asalanka and Madushka reached their half-centuries in just 44 balls, showcasing their exceptional batting prowess. Madushka, who has previously played 10 Test matches, seized the opportunity to replace injured opener Pathum Nissanka, the leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2024.
“I am glad that he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands,” Asalanka said. “It is good to have healthy competition in the side.”
The West Indies had posted a respectable 183 for four in 38.3 overs before rain interrupted their innings. However, their spinners struggled to grip the wet ball, giving Sri Lanka an advantage.
“We were really tested by the conditions,” West Indies skipper Shai Hope said. “Particularly for the spinners, the wet ball was quite challenging.”
Gudakesh Motie eventually broke the Asalanka-Madushka partnership, with Brandon King taking a sharp catch at slip. But by then, Sri Lanka had gained a significant advantage.
Madushka departed for 69 off 54 balls, while Asalanka fell for a brilliant 77 off 71 balls, both victims of Motie’s bowling. Despite Motie’s three wickets, the challenging conditions hindered his impact.
Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage guided Sri Lanka to victory with ease.
Earlier, the West Indies faced challenges against Sri Lanka’s spinners. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s career-best 74 not out, supported by Roston Chase, helped the visitors recover with an unbroken 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka’s victory gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. They had previously come from behind to win the T20 series 2-1, marking their first series win over the West Indies in the shortest format.
