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Sri Lanka draw first blood as Windies suffer 41-run loss
Kaieteur Sports – Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 41 runs in the first One Day International (ODI) at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After the West Indies won the toss and elected to field, Sri Lanka delivered a highly cohesive batting display to post 303 for 7 from their 50 overs.
Kusal Mendis raced to a 42-ball fifty. (AFP/Getty Images)
Top-order batsman Pathum Nissanka set a masterful anchor at the crease, hitting 9 fours and a six to top-score with 79 off 103 balls.
He found an aggressive partner in wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, who cleared the ropes four times in a fluent 72 off just 62 balls.
Useful contributions down the order from Charith Asalanka (45) and an explosive, unbeaten 44 from Janith Liyanage successfully pushed the visitors past the 300-run milestone.
For the hosts, Matthew Forde was the pick of the bowlers with tidy figures of 2 for 44.
John Campbell and Jayden Seales shared a fifty-run opening stand. (AFP/Getty Images)
Chasing a demanding target of 304, the West Indies top-order struggled to maintain the necessary run rate under pressure from a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling unit.
Skipper Shai Hope offered a resilient fightback, crossing the half-century mark to score 56 while Justin Greaves chipped in with a brisk 45.
However, the team regularly lost wickets at crucial intervals.
Sri Lankan seamer pacer Dushmantha Chameera ripped through the batting lineup, capturing 4-67 to stall any hope of a late-innings surge.
Jayden Seales celebrates a wicket. (AFP/Getty Images)
Spinner Maheesh Theekshana choked the scoring, returning exceptionally economical figures of 2-26 from his 10 overs.
The home side was ultimately bowled out for 262 in 49.2 overs.
With both teams desperate for ICC ranking points to secure direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, Sri Lanka’s clinical victory places them in a commanding position moving forward.
The action stays at Sabina Park as the West Indies look to bounce back and level the series on Saturday. (Clifton Ross)
Scores: Sri Lanka 303/7; West Indies (49.2/50 ov, T:304) 262.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 41 runs.
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