Clinical Sri Lanka clinch series as they beat West Indies by 5 wickets in 2nd ODI

Sri Lanka registered a convincing win by 5 wickets in the 2nd ODI against West Indies. The island nation clinched their fifth straight ODI series and their tenth straight home series win.

In Short

• Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 5 wickets in 2nd ODI
• Charith Asalanka top scores for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 62
• Sri Lanka lead the ODI series 2-0 vs West Indies

Sri Lanka secured a convincing victory over West Indies in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series. The triumph marked their fifth consecutive bilateral series win this year and their tenth straight home series victory. Despite having West Indies on the ropes at 56 for 8, Sri Lanka allowed their opponents to post a target of 190, providing their batters with valuable game time. Although openers Madushka and Samarawickrama made promising starts, it was captain Dasun Shanaka who led by example, scoring an unbeaten 62 to guide Sri Lanka to victory.

West Indies faced a tough challenge from the outset. After being asked to bat first, they struggled against Sri Lanka's disciplined bowling attack. Maheesh Theekshana struck early, dismissing Athanaze with his clever off-breaks, while Asitha Fernando also made an impact with two crucial wickets. The West Indies lineup faltered as wickets tumbled, and they found themselves in dire straits at 58 for 8, with no batsman able to settle in.

West Indies make comeback after early jolt

However, a remarkable partnership of 119 runs between Romario Shepherd and Akeal Motie turned the tide for West Indies. This stand not only marked a record for the highest ninth-wicket partnership in ODIs for West Indies, surpassing the previous record of 85 but also gave the team a fighting chance. Rutherford played a pivotal role, scoring a well-crafted 80 runs. He capitalised on dropped chances and showcased his resilience, helping West Indies reach a total that, at one point, seemed out of reach.

Sri Lanka captain leads the way

Despite their efforts, West Indies' innings came to a close at 189 runs. Hasaranga was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, taking 4 wickets for 40 runs, while Fernando and Theekshana supported well with three wickets each. This bowling performance set a solid foundation for Sri Lanka's chase.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost early wickets with both Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis failing to make significant contributions. However, the partnership between Madushka and Samarawickrama provided stability, with both players scoring 38 runs. Ultimately, it was Shanaka's calm and confident innings that steered Sri Lanka towards victory, complemented by contributions from Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis, who finished the game with ease.