West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka has been marred by controversy over the state of the pitches, with the visitors expressing dissatisfaction with the turning tracks prepared for the T20I series. Coach Daren Sammy claimed a “moral victory” for his team, suggesting that their performance forced Sri Lanka to produce more favorable conditions for the second and third matches.
However, in the first ODI in Pallekele, West Indies faced another challenging surface, compounded by unfavorable weather conditions. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the team’s innings was interrupted by rain in the 39th over. The delay not only prevented Sri Lanka’s bowlers from bowling with a wet ball but also forced West Indies to contend with a slippery ball throughout the second innings.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka acknowledged the impact of the wet ball on his team’s victory, while debutant Nishan Madushka, who played a crucial role in the match-winning partnership, echoed this sentiment. He noted that the West Indies bowlers struggled to grip the ball, resulting in reduced turn on the wicket.
Despite the challenging conditions, West Indies’ bowlers initially dominated, taking three wickets in the first three overs. However, Madushka and Asalanka’s partnership turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favor. The batters repeatedly hit the ball into waterlogged areas, significantly altering the condition of the ball. West Indies’ bowlers appealed to the umpires to change the balls, but their requests were denied.
Sri Lanka’s strategy of prolonging the game until bowling became more difficult proved effective. Madushka revealed that Asalanka instructed the team to drag the game to 20 or 25 overs before reassessing. This positive mindset contributed to his own performance and the team’s eventual victory.
With the remaining two ODIs also scheduled to be played in Pallekele, conditions are likely to continue playing a significant role in the outcome. From West Indies’ perspective, they have faced a substantial disadvantage thus far on the tour.
