| 0.0 : Hello and welcome everyone as we enter a new month and the final week of the league stage of this World Cup. It is a dead rubber first up between Sri Lanka and West Indies at Chester-le-Street. Both teams are knocked out of the tournament and we have to now use the cliched words - playing for pride. It has been an abysmal campaign for them where they struggled for discipline and consistency. With nothing much left to play for now, there will be no pressure and we can expect them to play freely a |
| Pitch report - Simon Doull looks at the pitch and calls it a tufty surface. Says that it will grip a little bit with the new ball and the seam will hold up a little. Adds that he is not sure it will turn much. Feels the strong wind blowing across the stadium will be a concern for the bowlers running into the wind. |
| Toss - Up goes the coin and it falls down in favour of Jason Holder. WEST INDIES WILL FIELD! |
| West Indies skipper, Jason Holder says that the wicket is fresh and if there is anything in it, it will be up front. States that they still have pride to play for and wants his batsmen to give themselves a bit more time. Informs that Kemar Roach goes out and is replaced by Shannon Gabriel. |
| Sri Lankan skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne says he would have bowled as well. Tells that in the last match the deck did respond with the new ball and they wanted to use the early advantage. Admits that batting has been an issue for them and they have to work on this area. Mentions that after the World Cup, they will have to rethink for the future. Informs that there are three changes but forgets the names. Here they are - Lahiru Thirimanne, Kasun Rajitha and Jeffrey Vandersay. |
| West Indies (Playing XI) - Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (WK), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (C), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Shannon Gabriel (IN FOR KEMAR ROACH), Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas. |
| Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Perera (WK), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne (IN FOR THISARA PERERA), Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay (IN FOR JEEVAN MENDIS), Kasun Rajitha (IN FOR SURANGA LAKMAL), Lasith Malinga. |
| The players from both teams are out in the middle to sing their respective national anthems. It has turned a bit overcast now and the strong wind continues to blow across the stadium. |
| Done with all the formalities. It's time to get going now. The West Indian players are on the field. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera are the Sri Lankan openers. The former got a snorter first up in the last match and was out for a golden duck. He would be keen to perform today. Sheldon Cottrell to kickoff proceedings with the first new ball. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Sri Lanka off the mark straightaway! Cottrell lands it on a length around middle and leg, Karunaratne nudges it off his pads to deep square leg for a run. Dimuth has opened his account and will be a relieved man. Sheldon shows some concern near the landing area. The replays show that his right leg slipped. |
| 0.2 : S Cottrell to K Perera, Goes on the back foot and defends it towards the bowler. |
| 0.3 : S Cottrell to K Perera, Lands it full and on off, Perera drives it off his front foot but straight to mid off. |
| 0.4 : S Cottrell to K Perera, This one is on middle and leg, angling down, Kusal fails to flick and is hit on the pads. A stifled appeal follows. |
| 0.5 : S Cottrell to K Perera, Shortish and outside off, Perera cuts but finds the point fielder. |
| 0.6 : S Cottrell to K Perera, Very full and on leg, Perera flicks it firmly to deep square leg. They pick up a single. Tidy start from Cottrell. |
| Oshane Thomas to steam in from the other end with the second new ball. Watch out for his pace. |
| 1.1 : O Thomas to K Perera, A length delivery on off, angling away, Kusal goes on the back foot and punches it towards the cover fielder. |
| 1.2 : O Thomas to K Perera, Rushes the batsman with extra pace and bounce around off, Perera jumps on the back foot and plays it down to point. |
| 1.3 : O Thomas to K Perera, Identical to the last delivery, once again Kusal goes on his back foot and this time cuts it past the backward point fielder for a couple. |
| 1.4 : O Thomas to K Perera, FOUR! Magnificent from Kusal Perera! He has slapped it on the up. Width on offer outside off, Kusal camps back and whacks it past the diving cover fielder for a boundary. That just raced away to the fence in no time. |
| 1.5 : O Thomas to K Perera, Play and a miss! Good pace and bounce for Oshane. It's outside off, Perera jumps and tries to cut but fails to connect. Two slips waiting for any edge. |
| 1.6 : O Thomas to K Perera, On and around off, a touch short again, Kusal taps it down to point from the crease to complete the over. |
| 2.1 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Good awareness! Cottrell bowls a yorker on off, Karunaratne looks to jam it out but it hits the bottom edge, lands just beside the stumps and then it seems to be spinning back towards it. Karunaratne quickly hits it away with the bat. Good presence of mind. |
| 2.2 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Another full ball on off, this is hit back to the bowler. |
| 2.3 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Sprays this down the leg side, DK looks to flick but misses. Wided. |
| S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, FOUR! Easy pickings! Cottrell bowls this full and on the pads, an Asian batsman would never miss out on that. He flicks it past short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 2.4 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Bowls it full again but this time it is outside off, it is the sucker ball. Dimuth looks to drive but is beaten. |
| 2.5 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, FOUR! On the pads again and another boundary. Cottrell is not learning here, the ball isn't swinging, he is still trying to get it to move away from the leg stump. That does not happen and Karunaratne works it through mid-wicket for the second boundary. |
| 2.6 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Expected response from the pacer! He goes short and on the body, Karunaratne ducks under it. Good over for Sri Lanka. |
| 3.1 : O Thomas to K Perera, Back of a length on off, Perera guides it down to third man and takes one. |
| 3.2 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Slightly short and just outside off, Karunaratne looks to cut but the ball ain't that short. He misses. |
| 3.3 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Very full and outside off, DK guides it to point. |
| 3.4 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, FOUR! Raining boundaries at the moment! Short and wide outside off, Karunaratne slaps it past point. Sheldon from third man runs to his left, dives, does push it back in but the ball hits the other hand and rolls back towards the ropes. Sheldon once again pushes it back in but this time he is in contact with the ropes. |
| 3.5 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Short and the line is quite straight this time, Karunaratne evades it. |
| 3.6 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Back of a length outside off, Karunaratne guides it to point. |
| 4.1 : S Cottrell to K Perera, FOUR! Up and over! Perera makes room and also takes a few steps down the track. Sheldon bowls it slightly short, it comes at a good height to the batsman who slaps it over mid off. 20 out of the 26 runs have come in boundaries. |
| 4.2 : S Cottrell to K Perera, Now full and on middle, this is jammed through mid-wicket. They take one. DK wants a second but is sent back. |
| 4.3 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, Good length and outside off, Karunaratne leaves it alone. |
| 4.4 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, On a good length again, close to off and the batter defends it out. This is where SC should be bowling a lot more. |
| 4.5 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, On the fuller side and on off, Karunaratne strokes it to mid on. |
| 4.6 : S Cottrell to D Karunaratne, This is on the pads, Dimuth works it through square leg for one. Another decent over for Sri Lanka. |
| 5.1 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Shorter and outside off, once again it is not very short but Karunaratne still looks to cut and misses. |
| 5.2 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Back of a length on off, DK defends it. |
| 5.3 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Another one which is just outside off, the ball is guided to point. |
| 5.4 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Thomas gets away with one there! This is short and outside off, Karunaratne looks to slap it but misses. He looks away in disappointment as he knows it was there to be hit. |
| 5.5 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Back of a length on off, DK keeps it out. |
| 5.6 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, A good short ball to end! It is on the body, Dimuth ducks under it. A maiden by Thomas. Much-needed tight over for the Caribbean team. |
| Shannon Gabriel is on now! He has come in the XI in place of Kemar Roach and would like to impress his skipper here. Shannon has been brilliant in Tests but somehow has not managed to leave the same impact in the shorter versions. Today is the opportunity and the conditions also look helpful. |
| 6.1 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Good running! This is on a length and around off, Perera pushes it towards mid off and gets to the other end quickly. |
| 6.2 : S Gabriel to D Karunaratne, Too straight and this is clipped to the deep square leg fielder for one. |
| S Gabriel to D Karunaratne, 1 run. |
| 6.3 : S Gabriel to K Perera, In the air... but safe! This is on a length and around middle, Perera initially looks to push hard at it, it sticks in the surface and lobs towards mid off but falls short. |
| 6.4 : S Gabriel to K Perera, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! This is on the pads, Perera works it fine on the leg side and bags a boundary. Windies have bowled very straight here. |
| 6.5 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Good length and it is on middle, KP works it to mid-wicket. |
| 6.6 : S Gabriel to K Perera, One more delivery down the leg side, Perera lets it be and it has been wided. |
| S Gabriel to K Perera, FOUR! Easy-peasy! Once again the ball is down the leg side, Perera works it to the fine leg fence. Second boundary in the over and an expensive start by Gabriel. |
| 7.1 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, FOUR! Sri Lanka are dealing in boundaries! This is full and wide outside off, Karunaratne reaches out for it and carves it through cover-point. |
| 7.2 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Good length ball on middle at 142 kph, Dimuth defends it out towards mid-wicket. |
| 7.3 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Thomas bends his back and goes short outside off at 140 kph, Karunaratne tries to pull but misses. |
| 7.4 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Almost a drag on! Extra pace this time by Oshane. He digs it in short and wide outside off, at 146 kph, Karunaratne stands back and throws his bat at it. It takes the bottom half and rolls to the right of the keeper. |
| 7.5 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Remains on the back foot and plays it out safely to point. |
| 7.6 : O Thomas to D Karunaratne, Sees the width and tries to power it through the line. But it's slower than Oshane's normal pace and the Lankan skipper is deceived. |
| 8.1 : S Gabriel to K Perera, A yorker on middle, Perera jams it out. |
| 8.2 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Full again on middle, Perera looks to drive but it goes off the inner half through square leg for one. |
| 8.3 : S Gabriel to D Karunaratne, Back of a length on middle, Karunaratne pushes it to mid on. |
| 8.4 : S Gabriel to D Karunaratne, Angles this one into the pads, Karunaratne looks to flick but misses. The ball hits the pads and rolls on the leg side. A leg bye taken. |
| 8.5 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Good length and on off, Perera pushes it to mid off. |
| 8.6 : S Gabriel to K Perera, On the pads again, this is worked behind square on the leg side. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and keeps it down to two. Gabriel too has not started well. He has also been too straight in his first two overs. |
| Skipper Jason Holder comes on now! He bowled brilliantly against India in the last match and his figures were, 10-2-33-2. Can he do the same or even better it today? |
| 9.1 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Back of a length and on off, Karunaratne guides it to cover-point. |
| 9.2 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Back of a length again on off, Karunaratne defends it back to the bowler. |
| 9.3 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, On middle, DK works it to square leg. |
| 9.4 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Direct hit and Perera would have been a goner! Back of a length on middle, Karunaratne works it towards square leg. Perera sets off, DK hesitates but then goes for it. Ambris picks the ball up and has a shy at the striker's end but misses. |
| 9.5 : J Holder to K Perera, Nice shot! Short and on the body, Perera pulls it firmly but straight towards deep square leg for one. |
| 9.6 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, A dot to end Powerplay 1! Short and around off, Karunaratne hits it to point. Sri Lanka's Powerplay. They are 49 for 0 after it. |
| Powerplay 2 begins! Maximum of 4 fielders allowed outside the inner circle till the 40th over. Jason Holder is off the field after bowling just one over. |
| 10.1 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Hammered but straight to the fielder! Slightly fuller and around middle, Perera hits it with the angle, right off the middle but straight to mid on. |
| 10.2 : S Gabriel to K Perera, Shorter and on the body, this is worked through square leg for one. 50 up for Sri Lanka. Another good start given by the openers. |
| 10.3 : S Gabriel to D Karunaratne, This is on off, Karunaratne looks to defend but ends up playing inside the line, the ball goes off the outer half down to third man for one. |
| 10.4 : S Gabriel to K Perera, FOUR! Just wide! Short and on the body, it rushed the batter who looks to pull. It goes off Perera's glove and just wide of Hope for a boundary to the fine leg region. |
| Jason Holder is sitting near the boundary line now, cutting the nails of his left hand. He is then seen putting his left shoe on. Pommie Mbangwa (on air) sees the funny side of it and comments - I can understand him cutting his toe nails, but this... |
| 10.5 : S Gabriel to K Perera, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Too short again and this time Perera was expecting it. He goes back and pulls it through backward square leg. Fine leg runs to his right and tries to stop it but fails to do so. |
| 10.6 : S Gabriel to K Perera, FOUR! Three boundaries in a row! Perera is on the charge here! This is slightly fuller and on off, once again Kusal was waiting for it. He extends his arms and lofts it over mid on for a boundary. 14 from the over, Gabriel has gone for 28 in his 3 overs. |
| 11.1 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Too straight again and this is worked down to fine leg for one. |
| 11.2 : J Holder to K Perera, Outside off, Perera guides it to deep point for one. |
| 11.3 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Good single! Back of a length on off, this is pushed to the left of mid off for one. |
| 11.4 : J Holder to K Perera, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 11.5 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Misfield and a run! This is flicked straight to square leg. He does not stop it cleanly and a single is taken. |
| 11.6 : J Holder to K Perera, On the fuller side, this is flicked through mid-wicket for one. 6 singles in the over. |
| Carlos Brathwaite is now introduced into the attack. He came to bowl in the last 10 overs against India and went for aplenty. Today he has come in after Powerplay 1 and would like to bowl nice and tidy. |
| 12.1 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, On a good length around off, it's punched from the back foot to covers. |
| 12.2 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Stays back and forces a shortish delivery to the left of sweeper cover for a brace. |
| 12.3 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Back of a length ball around off, Perera goes on his toes and taps it down in the gap on the off side for one. |
| 12.4 : C Brathwaite to D Karunaratne, Well played! Shortish and on off, Karunaratne leans back and steers it through to backward point. The fielder there dives to his left but the ball bursts through his hands and goes behind. A single is taken. |
| 12.5 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Width on offer again, outside off, Kusal cuts it past the right side of the backward point fielder this time and picks up a couple. |
| 12.6 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Straighter in line, Perera nudges it fine down the leg side for a brace again. 8 from the over. |
| 13.1 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Fuller and on middle, Karunaratne works it towards mid on for one. |
| 13.2 : J Holder to K Perera, A quick single to get to his half ton! His 14th in ODIs and third in this World Cup. He has really flourished after being promoted. Needs to make it big here though. Kusal gets there by working it on the leg side for one. |
| 13.3 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, On a good length and around off, this is worked to square leg. |
| 13.4 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, Confusion but due to the misfield, no harm done! This is fuller and on off, Karunaratne dives it towards cover. He sets off for a run. Perera is not sure. The fielder though misfields and then it is an easy single. |
| 13.5 : J Holder to K Perera, On the shorter side and on the body, this is pulled down to fine leg for another run. |
| 13.6 : J Holder to K Perera, Short and on middle, Perera pulls it to fine leg for one. |
| 14.1 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, FOUR! Perera doing it easily at the moment. He gives Brathwaite the charge and drags it with the angle over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 14.2 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Now a couple! This is worked through backward square leg and the batters run two. |
| 14.3 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Slower one on middle, this is kept out. |
| 14.4 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Another single as Perera works it towards short fine leg. |
| 14.5 : C Brathwaite to D Karunaratne, Another two! This is on middle, Karunaratne works it through mid-wicket and takes two. |
| 14.6 : C Brathwaite to D Karunaratne, This is on a length and outside off, Karunaratne guides it down to third man and gets to the other end. Another excellent over for Sri Lanka. |
| 15.1 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, A direct hit and it would have been close! This is on middle, it is worked through mid-wicket. It is a big boundary there so the batters go for two. The fielder picks the ball up and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. |
| 15.2 : J Holder to D Karunaratne, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! The skipper provides the much-needed breakthrough. He gets his opposite number and is ecstatic. A soft dismissal and completely against the run of play. This is short and wide outside off, it keeps going away with the angle. Karunaratne throws his bat at it and the ball kisses the outside edge. Hope makes no mistake. Karunaratne falls after getting off to a start. A very good start though by the opening pair. Windies will now look to pull th |
| Drinks break. A strong start from Sri Lanka. Their openers have done a commendable job, in particular, Kusal Perera. West Indies have just managed to break the partnership but need to keep chipping away at the wickets, otherwise they will end up having a big total to chase. Kusal is the danger man for them as he is looking in sublime form. He is now joined by the young man, Avishka Fernando, who is also known for his freestyle batting. |
| 15.3 : J Holder to A Fernando, Shorter and outside off, Fernando initially looks to cut but then bails out. Wided. |
| J Holder to A Fernando, Another one on a length and around off, this is defended. |
| Shout for an lbw against Avishka Fernando! The umpire has remained still. Jason Holder walks up to his keeper and then takes the referral. It looks to be drifting down the leg side. The Ball Tracking confirms that it's missing the leg pole. West Indies lose their only review. |
| 15.4 : J Holder to A Fernando, NOT OUT! It is slipping down leg! Always looked like that, not sure why the review was taken. Windies lose their only review. This is slightly fuller and it starts on middle, tails back in. Fernando looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal follows but the umpire remains unmoved. Holder reviews after having a chat with his keeper. Replays roll in and they show the ball to be going down leg. |
| 15.5 : J Holder to A Fernando, Back of a length on off, it is defended. |
| 15.6 : J Holder to A Fernando, Good length and on off, this is defended. End of a successful over for West Indies. Three runs, one wicket and the loss of review from it. |
| 16.1 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, Good length and on off, Perera defends it out. |
| 16.2 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, This is short but very short! Perera lets it be and it has been wided. |
| C Brathwaite to K Perera, On the pads, this is worked through square leg for one. |
| 16.3 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Back of a length on off, Fernando pushes it to mid off. |
| 16.4 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, This is slightly fuller on off, Fernando pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 16.5 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Fernando is off the mark! This is on the pads, he flicks it to deep square leg and gets to the other end. |
| 16.6 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, A slower one on middle, this is defended back to the bowler. |
| 17.1 : J Holder to A Fernando, Loose shot! This is on a length and outside off, Fernando has a tentative poke at it and gets beaten. |
| 17.2 : J Holder to A Fernando, In the air... but wide! Fuller and around off, Fernando looks to drive it on the up but it flies off the outside edge and down to third man for one. |
| 17.3 : J Holder to K Perera, In the air... dropped! That should have been taken! Perera gets a life and this could be very dangerous as he is looking really good out there. Holder bowls it short and on middle, Perera pulls it hard but does not keep it down. It is tailing away from the deep square leg fielder who is running to his left. He tries to take it but the ball does not stay in. The batters take two. 100 up for Sri Lanka. |
| 17.4 : J Holder to K Perera, Good length and on off, this is pushed towards mid off for one. |
| 17.5 : J Holder to A Fernando, Another single as Fernando strokes it through covers. |
| 17.6 : J Holder to K Perera, Another short one to Perera. This time the batter gets on top of the bounce and hits it down to fine leg for a single. |
| 18.1 : C Brathwaite to K Perera, OUT! RUN OUT! The dropped catch has not cost West Indies a lot. This is a bonus wicket. The man who was looking so good has been run out. Perera works this through mid-wicket and takes the first one quickly. He wants a second and he goes for it. Fernando is not interested. Perera has his eyes on the ball and does not see his partner has his hand up. Till the time Perera realizes Fernando is not coming back, it is too late. He tries to turn and make it back in but |
| 0.0 : Kusal Mendis comes out to bat. |
| 18.2 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Good length on off, this is blocked. |
| 18.3 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Another good length ball on middle, this is kept out. |
| 18.4 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Shorter outside off, this is hit through covers for one. |
| 18.5 : C Brathwaite to K Mendis, A short one on middle, Mendis evades it. |
| 18.6 : C Brathwaite to K Mendis, Good length and on off, this is defended. A good over for West Indies. 2 runs and a wicket from it. |
| 19.1 : J Holder to A Fernando, NO BALL! This is down the leg side, Fernando looks to flick but it goes off the pads to the keeper. Holder has overstepped. Free Hit coming up! |
| J Holder to A Fernando, FOUR BYES! Holder will be heartbroken there. He bowls a perfect yorker outside off. Fernando fails to get bat on ball. Hope does not get down in time and it goes between his legs and down to the fine leg fence. |
| 19.2 : J Holder to A Fernando, Back of a length on off, Fernando looks to push at it away from the body but he gets an inside edge down to fine leg for one. |
| 19.3 : J Holder to K Mendis, Good length and on off, this is defended. |
| 19.4 : J Holder to K Mendis, A little too straight, the batter pushes it to mid off. |
| 19.5 : J Holder to K Mendis, On the pads, Mendis works it through square leg and takes two. |
| 19.6 : J Holder to K Mendis, Another length ball on off, Mendis is solid in defense. |
| 20.1 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Good length and on off, this is pushed back to the bowler who does well to stop it. |
| 20.2 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Shorter and on the body, Fernando picks it up over mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep runs to his left, dives and saves it. Three taken. |
| 20.3 : C Brathwaite to K Mendis, FOUR! 7 from the first three balls! Short and on middle, Mendis pulls it wide of mid on and bags a boundary. |
| 20.4 : C Brathwaite to K Mendis, Sensible batting! Got a boundary on the last ball, he now just guides it down to third man for one. |
| 20.5 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Good length and on middle, this is kept out. |
| 20.6 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Another poor ball! Down the leg side, Fernando pulls it fine on the leg side. Thomas runs to his right, dives and saves two for his side. 10 from the over, an excellent one for Sri Lanka. |
| 21.1 : J Holder to K Mendis, FOUR! That's a beautiful pull shot! Short in length and on off, angling in, Mendis pulls it off his front foot and it whistles away to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 21.2 : J Holder to K Mendis, Another short delivery and another pull shot. This time towards deep square leg. Sheldon Cottrell makes a diving stop and they take one. |
| 21.3 : J Holder to A Fernando, FOUR! Shot! Fernando getting into the act now. Holder serves it in the slot outside off, Avishka spots that mid off is up and just lofts it over the infield for a boundary. |
| 21.4 : J Holder to A Fernando, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 21.5 : J Holder to A Fernando, Good length ball on middle, played down from the crease to mid on. |
| 21.6 : J Holder to A Fernando, Lands it on a length and outside off, Fernando drives it on the up through cover-point for one. |
| Sheldon Cottrell is back on. He was decent in his first spell but didn't get any success. Can he strike in this spell? |
| 22.1 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, On middle and leg, defended from the crease to mid-wicket. |
| 22.2 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, SIX! This is dismissive. Avishka is a brilliant striker of a cricket ball and he has shown his quality there. Pulls a short delivery from the crease and launches it over mid-wicket for a maximum. |
| 22.3 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Straighter delivery, turned in the gap at mid-wicket for a couple of runs. The in-ring fielder should have dived there. |
| 22.4 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Fullish and on middle, flicked on the leg side but towards mid on. |
| 22.5 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 22.6 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Lands it on a length and close to off stump, Avishka blocks it from the back foot to the off side. |
| S Cottrell to A Fernando, No run. |
| Fabian Allen comes on now! |
| 23.1 : F Allen to K Mendis, Full and flighted on middle, Mendis is on the front foot as he defends it back to the bowler. |
| 23.2 : F Allen to K Mendis, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 23.3 : F Allen to K Mendis, Presses forward and drives it to the left of the bowler. Fabian dives to make the stop. |
| 23.4 : F Allen to K Mendis, Drags his length short on middle, Mendis pulls from the crease but finds Gayle at mid-wicket. |
| 23.5 : F Allen to K Mendis, Shortish and on off, punched from the back foot to long on for one. |
| 23.6 : F Allen to A Fernando, Flighted and on middle, worked on the leg side but straight to square leg. |
| 24.1 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Back of a length ball on middle, it's been pulled from the back foot to fine leg for a run. |
| 24.2 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Played to the point region by the batsman. No run. |
| 24.3 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Good length ball on middle and off, Fernando brings down a straight bat in defense. |
| 24.4 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Width on offer outside off, Avishka runs it down to third man and takes one. |
| 24.5 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Very full and on the leg side, Mendis clips it through square leg for a run. |
| 24.6 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Slower one, fullish and outside off, it's driven square of the wicket on the off side for a run. |
| 25.1 : F Allen to A Fernando, Flatter and shorter on middle, Fernando moves back and strokes it to long on for a run. |
| 25.2 : F Allen to K Mendis, A low full toss on off, Kusal stretches forward and forces it down to long on for one. |
| 25.3 : F Allen to A Fernando, Too full and on middle, driven back to the bowler who made a fine diving stop to his left. |
| 25.4 : F Allen to A Fernando, Shortish and on middle, Avishka gets back and punches it to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 25.5 : F Allen to K Mendis, 150 up for Sri Lanka! Loopy full around off, Mendis drives it through the covers and rotates the strike. |
| 25.6 : F Allen to A Fernando, Shortish and on off, punched from the back foot to covers. Dot ball to end a 4-run over. |
| 26.1 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Well fielded, Pooran. He has been electric in the field. Shortish and on middle, pulled firmly through square leg. Pooran makes a nice diving stop and saves two. |
| 26.2 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Reaches out for a length ball outside off and pushes it behind point. A good diving stop by the third man fielder and the batsmen take three. 50-run stand comes up! |
| 26.3 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Uses his wrists to flick a length ball off his pads and eases it through square leg for one. |
| 26.4 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Gets on the front foot to a full ball and forces it towards mid off. |
| 26.5 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Lands it on a length close to leg stump, Mendis nudges it behind square leg. The fine leg fielder gets across to it and the batsmen take two. |
| 26.6 : S Cottrell to K Mendis, Beaten on the drive! Too full in length and wide outside off, Kusal tries to stroke it through covers but is beaten by the angle of the left-armer. |
| 27.1 : F Allen to A Fernando, Tries punching it down the ground but gets a leading edge towards covers for a run. |
| 27.2 : F Allen to K Mendis, FOUR! Mendis is looking in fine touch today. Very good batting. Loopy full ball around leg, Kusal goes down on one knee in a flash and sweeps it sweetly behind square leg for a boundary. |
| 27.3 : F Allen to K Mendis, Fires in a very full ball on middle, Mendis drives it back to the bowler. |
| 27.4 : F Allen to K Mendis, Flighted and full on off, forcing the batsman forward, Mendis drives but finds the cover fielder. |
| 27.5 : F Allen to K Mendis, A yorker length on off, it's dug out back to the bowler. Kusal looks at the bottom half of his bat. Maybe, it's broken. |
| Here comes the replacement bat for Kusal Mendis. |
| 27.6 : F Allen to K Mendis, Drops it short and on middle, Mendis goes down on one knee and plays a horizontal bat shot to deep square leg for a run. |
| Oshane Thomas is back into the attack. He bowled with good pace in his first spell and kept the batsmen testing. Would like to have a few wickets to his name. |
| 28.1 : O Thomas to K Mendis, Starts with a delivery straighter in line, Mendis flicks but finds mid-wicket. |
| 28.2 : O Thomas to K Mendis, FOUR! Another boundary for Sri Lanka! Full in length and on middle, Kusal flicks and this time places it to the left of the mid-wicket fielder inside the ring. He dives but to no use as it screams away to the fence. |
| 28.3 : O Thomas to K Mendis, Lands it on a length close to off stump, Mendis draws forward in defense but it takes the outer half of his bat and rolls to point. |
| 28.4 : O Thomas to K Mendis, Shortish and on off, Kusal stays back and just uses the pace of the bowler to guide it towards third man. A single to rotate the strike. |
| 28.5 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Spears in a very full ball on middle at 89 mph, Fernando defends it back to the bowler. |
| 28.6 : O Thomas to A Fernando, The line is straight again, Fernando bunts it to the right of mid on for a brisk single. The stand moves to 66 and this pair is doing a fabulous job at the moment. |
| 29.1 : F Allen to A Fernando, Shortish and on middle, punched from the back foot to covers. |
| 29.2 : F Allen to A Fernando, Hangs on the back foot to a short ball and eases it to the right of point for a run. |
| 29.3 : F Allen to K Mendis, Full and floated on off, it's driven off the front foot to covers. |
| 29.4 : F Allen to K Mendis, Flatter and shorter on off, defended off the back foot towards short third man. |
| 29.5 : F Allen to K Mendis, Advances down the track and lofts his flick over mid-wicket for a run. |
| 29.6 : F Allen to A Fernando, Forces a shortish ball down through mid off for a run. |
| 30.1 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Sliding down the leg side, it's eased to fine leg for one. |
| 30.2 : O Thomas to K Mendis, Sharp delivery, length and on middle, Mendis defends it to mid-wicket. |
| 30.3 : O Thomas to K Mendis, Mendis opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 30.4 : O Thomas to A Fernando, A near yorker on off, Avishka digs it out to covers. |
| 30.5 : O Thomas to A Fernando, FOUR! Up and over the infield. Short in length around off, Avishka picks the length in a trice, hangs on the back foot and pulls it over the leaping mid-wicket fielder for a boundary. |
| 30.6 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Tries for a yorker but it turns out to be a full toss outside off, Avishka guides it behind backward point for a couple of runs. 8 from the over, 14 in this spell of two overs from Oshane. |
| 31.1 : F Allen to K Mendis, A low full toss on middle, it's worked to deep mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 31.2 : F Allen to K Mendis, Goes on the back foot to a short ball and punches it to deep cover for a run. |
| 31.3 : F Allen to A Fernando, FOUR! Brilliant, brilliant footwork by Avishka. He runs down the track to a full ball around middle, makes room and drills his drive through extra cover. No chance for the fielder in the deep. |
| 31.4 : F Allen to A Fernando, Fabian pulls his length back and lands it outside off, it's cut from the crease to deep point for a run. |
| 31.5 : F Allen to K Mendis, OUT! Fabian Allen has taken an outstanding diving catch in his followthrough. A flighted delivery, Mendis walks down the track to take it on the full but ends up chipping it back towards the bowler. Allen dives full length to his right, he is airborne as he snaps a beauty. The 85-run stand is broken courtesy this stunner. |
| Drinks break. Once again a wicket is followed by a mini-break. West Indies will be relieved to break the last partnership as both Mendis and Fernando were batting fluently. Avishka is still out there and Sri Lanka will hope that he bats maximum overs. For West Indies, it's all about picking wickets and limiting the damage. Angelo Mathews is the new batsman now. |
| 31.6 : F Allen to A Mathews, Fires in a full ball on off, Mathews drives it back to the bowler. |
| 32.1 : O Thomas to A Fernando, A low full toss on off, Avishka drives it through covers for a couple of runs. |
| 32.2 : O Thomas to A Fernando, On a length and around off, Fernando plays it off his back foot to point. |
| 32.3 : O Thomas to A Fernando, A yorker in the blockhole, Avishka brings his bat down in time to block it out. |
| 32.4 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Fine stop, Holder! Almost a run out at both end. Too full in length around off, Avishka drives it down the ground and Holder dives full length to his right to make a superb stop. He releases the ball quickly towards the bowler's end but Mathews is safely in. The bowler then collects the ball and has a shy at the keeper's end as Avishka dives in. |
| 32.5 : O Thomas to A Fernando, FOUR! Fifty for Avishka Fernando, his second in ODIs! Length delivery on off at 140 kph, Fernando walks forward to swing his bat across the line. It takes the inner half and goes over wide mid on for a boundary. Superb knock by the young man and he will be eyeing his maiden century here. |
| Jason Holder is in some discomfort. He is down on the ground. Probably has hurt himself with that dive on the fourth ball. |
| 32.6 : O Thomas to A Fernando, The batsman guides it to third man. They pick up a single. |
| 33.1 : F Allen to A Fernando, FOUR! Nicely played. Avishka is oozing confidence. Loopy and full around off, Fernando dances down the track and lofts it with nonchalance over covers. 200 up for Sri Lanka. |
| 0.0 : Slight hold up in play. The reserve umpire is coming with a box of ball. Not sure whether we have lost the ball or it has lost its shape. Anyway, they are getting the replacement. |
| 33.2 : F Allen to A Fernando, Bowls it with a quicker arm action, flatter and fuller on middle, it's defended back to the bowler. |
| 33.3 : F Allen to A Fernando, Strides forward to a full ball and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 33.4 : F Allen to A Fernando, Loopy and outside off, Avishka drives it to covers and looks for a run, is sent back by the non-striker. |
| 33.5 : F Allen to A Fernando, Knocks a full ball down through mid on for a run. |
| 33.6 : F Allen to A Mathews, Shout for an lbw! An arm ball landing on middle and leg, skidding down, Angelo hangs on the back foot to get it away but misses. The appeal follows but it's missing leg. |
| Shannon Gabriel is back into the attack. |
| 34.1 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, Starts his new spell with a length ball outside off, Avishka steers it behind point and takes a single. |
| 34.2 : S Gabriel to A Mathews, A mistimed pull shot and a poor piece of fielding by Thomas at mid on. Jason Holder mops it up from mid off and the batsmen take two. The West Indian skipper scores a direct hit at the bowler's end and one of the bails hits Gabriel on the face, near his eyes. He's fine but not impressed. A similar incident ended the career of Mark Boucher, if you remember. Really dangerous. |
| 34.3 : S Gabriel to A Mathews, Play and a miss! Full and wide outside off, Angelo tries for a booming drive but misses. |
| 34.4 : S Gabriel to A Mathews, Stays back footed to a length ball and punches it to deep cover for a run. |
| 34.5 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, Movement away from the batsman, Avishka throws his bat at it but fails to connect. |
| 34.6 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, EDGY FOUR! Gabriel clocks 150 kph and serves a length delivery wide outside off, Fernando once again flashes his blade at it and edges it down to third man for a boundary. |
| 35.1 : F Allen to A Mathews, Down the leg side, helped through square leg for a single. |
| 35.2 : F Allen to A Fernando, Short and around off, pulled straight to Chris Gayle at short mid-wicket. |
| 35.3 : F Allen to A Fernando, On middle and off, pushed down to long on for a single. |
| 35.4 : F Allen to A Mathews, Full and around off, eased down to long off for a run. |
| 35.5 : F Allen to A Fernando, Outside off, punched back to the bowler. |
| 35.6 : F Allen to A Fernando, Full and around off, Fernando gets down and mows a slog sweep over mid-wicket. Not sweetly timed. Two runs taken. |
| 36.1 : S Gabriel to A Mathews, Short and wide outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 36.2 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, Outside off, played straight to point. |
| 36.3 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, FOUR! Fine shot. Short and outside off, Fernando uses the width and crashes it over point for a boundary! |
| 36.4 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, Outside edge, but does not carry. On a length outside off, the off cutter, 122 kph, Fernando looks to run it down to third man but gets a thick outside edge. Luckily for him, it does not carry behind to Hope. |
| 36.5 : S Gabriel to A Fernando, NO BALL! A high full toss, outside off, Avishka steers it down to third man for a single. |
| FREE HIT COMING UP! |
| S Gabriel to A Mathews, Excellent ball on the Free Hit. A yorker, on middle and off, Mathews backs away but can only dig it out towards point. |
| 36.6 : S Gabriel to A Mathews, Full and down the leg side, Angelo tucks it past short fine leg. Sunil Ambris runs after it but while picking it up at the fine leg ropes, slips and twists his ankle. He cries in pain and throws the ball to Carlos Brathwaite running across from deep square leg. The umpires refer it upstairs but replays show that while the fielding effort is fine, the fielder isn't. Three runs and a fielder taken. |
| Ambris looks to be in pain here. He is on his haunches and is not able to get up, wincing in immense pain. The physio is out in the middle. Not the best day for the Windies on the field. In fact, Ambris is going off now. |
| Jason Holder returns. 7-0-35-1 so far. Can he get a breakthrough for his side? |
| 37.1 : J Holder to A Mathews, NO BALL! Massive overstepping by Holder. |
| 0.0 : ANOTHER FREE HIT! Can Fernando make use of this one? |
| 37.1 : J Holder to A Fernando, Full and outside off, driven through covers for a run. |
| 37.2 : J Holder to A Mathews, FOUR! Nice shot. Full and outside off, this is driven through the covers. |
| 37.3 : J Holder to A Mathews, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 37.4 : J Holder to A Mathews, Down the leg side, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 37.5 : J Holder to A Fernando, On middle and off, pushed through square leg for a couple. |
| 37.6 : J Holder to A Fernando, Full and around off, eased through mid on for one more. |
| Fabian Allen is back on. 7-0-32-1 so far. |
| 38.1 : F Allen to A Fernando, Shortish and on middle, punched from the back foot to long off for a run. |
| 38.2 : F Allen to A Mathews, Slower through the air, short and wide outside off, Mathews mistimes his back foot punch to the left of the bowler. |
| 38.3 : F Allen to A Mathews, Loopy and on middle, swept across the line but straight to short fine leg. |
| 38.4 : F Allen to A Mathews, FOUR! Nicely played by Angelo. Flatter and quicker and shorter outside off at 93 kph, Mathews hops back to make room and slaps it over point for a boundary. |
| 38.5 : F Allen to A Mathews, SIX! Floated and full around off, Mathews leans forward, reaches out for it and shoots it over long off. The fielder in the deep jumps near the fence but it sails over his head. |
| 38.6 : F Allen to A Mathews, Played through the mid-wicket region by the batsman. They pick up a single. 12 from the over, Sri Lanka getting a go now. |
| 39.1 : J Holder to A Mathews, OUT! BOWLED! Right under the bat and onto the stumps. Mathews flatters to deceive. Having scored 26 from 19 balls before this one, it seemed like he was ready for the big push. He did try that, but could not quite execute. The former comes down the track to try and go inside out but Holder fires in a yorker. Actually, on closer look in the replays, it is not a yorker. It is a full ball but because Angelo had comes down the track, he yorks himself. The ball goes under |
| 0.0 : This is bizarre. Lahiru Thirimanne walks in at number 6, replacing Mathews. One might have expected the flamboyant Dhananjaya de Silva to come. |
| 39.2 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, FOUR! EDGED, BUT WIDE! Slice of luck for Thirimanne first up. A length ball around middle, Lahiru pushes at it but the ball moves away and takes the outside edge. It flies behind but right in no man's land between the keeper and wide first slip, who is almost at second slip. That too, Chris Gayle. The big man gets down to his right to try and take the catch but by that time the ball goes past him to the third man fence. |
| 39.3 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 39.4 : J Holder to A Fernando, On a length around off, worked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 39.5 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, A short ball, around middle, LT goes for the pull but misses. |
| 39.6 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, Around middle, Thirimanne looks to tuck it to the leg side but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. |
| POWERPLAY 3 time. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the end. Sheldon Cottrell is back on. 6-0-37-0 so far. |
| 40.1 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, A short ball, pulled wide of long on for a single. |
| 40.2 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Very full, almost a yorker, pushed towards short mid-wicket. |
| 40.3 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Full and wide outside off, driven straight to point. |
| 40.4 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, On middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 40.5 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Full and outside off, Lahiru backs away and slices it over cover. The fielder sweeps across to his left and slides to stop the ball. Three runs added to the total. |
| 40.6 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Outside off, a slash and a miss. |
| 41.1 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single. |
| 41.2 : J Holder to A Fernando, Full toss outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 41.3 : J Holder to A Fernando, A short ball, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 41.4 : J Holder to L Thirimanne, On middle, flicked just over mid-wicket. It is a long side of the boundary and by the time Carlos Brathwaite gets to the ball from long on, three runs are taken. |
| 41.5 : J Holder to A Fernando, Outside off, punched off the back foot. |
| 41.6 : J Holder to A Fernando, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a brace. 10-0-59-2 for Jason Holder. Only time will tell whether the figures are good enough on this day or not. |
| Attention!!! Time for the salute. Here comes Sheldon Cottrell again. 7-0-41-0 so far. |
| 42.1 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Down the leg side, helped fine for a single. |
| 42.2 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, SIX! THWACK! Wow. What a shot. This bloke can bat. A short ball, around middle, Fernando gets on top of the ball and pulls it massively over mid-wicket! Kumar Sangakkara on air remembers that he played a similar shot to Jofra Archer in their game against England. |
| 42.3 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Pitched outside leg, Avishka is well down the leg side to try and flick it to the leg side but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards the off side and a leg bye is taken. |
| 42.4 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 42.5 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, WIDE. Down the leg side, flick shot missed. |
| S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, On middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 42.6 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, Outside off, punched off the back foot for one. |
| 43.1 : O Thomas to A Fernando, A low full toss, outside off, Fernando drives it towards cover. |
| 43.2 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Full and outside off, driven towards long off for a single. |
| 43.3 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, CAUGHT! BUT IT IS A NO BALL! Wow. Thirimanne has another slice of luck. Remember his first-ball escape? Full and around middle, Lahiru flicks it straight to Shimron Hetmyer at short mid-wicket. The moment he hits it, he looks at the heavens in disappointment and walks off. Then, he is called back by Fernando to check that umpire Bruce Oxenford has raised his arm sideways. |
| FREE HIT TIME AGAIN. Will this change the fortunes for Thirimanne? |
| O Thomas to L Thirimanne, Nothing much on the Free Hit again. Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler. He is lazy to bend and the batsmen take a single to long on. |
| 43.4 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Outside off, driven through mid off for a couple. |
| 43.5 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Outside off, a wild swing and a miss. |
| 43.6 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Full and outside off, chipped over mid off for a run. |
| Remember. The name. Carlos Brathwaite is back. 5-0-33-0 so far. |
| 44.1 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, A bad ball to start, but he gets away with it. Full and down the leg side, Fernando looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off his pads towards square leg and a leg bye is taken. |
| 44.2 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, FOUR! Nice shot. Full and on middle, Thirimanne comes down the track and hits it down towards long on. There is a fielder in the deep and he runs to his right but he cannot get there in time! |
| 44.3 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, FOUR! Oh well... is Thirimanne turning it on? A length ball outside off, Thirimanne comes down the track and lofts it over mid off this time! |
| 44.4 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, Smart batting by Lahiru. Works it with soft hands through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 44.5 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Landed outside off, a slower ball, Fernando waits for the ball to come to him and dabs it late towards third man for a run. |
| 44.6 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, Direct hit would have robbed Fernando off his century! Full on middle, LT drives it through mid on. Fernando calls for the second and Thirimanne responds. However, the throw is a good one at the bowler's end but it misses the stumps. Avishka was a goner had that hit. 13 from that over. |
| 45.1 : O Thomas to A Fernando, A high full toss on middle, lofted over mid on. Does not carry to long on. A single taken. |
| 45.2 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, Full on middle, Thirimanne looks to swing hard but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The ball deflects to the off side and the batsmen take a run. |
| 45.3 : O Thomas to A Fernando, FOUR! 300 UP FOR SRI LANKA! A length ball, flicked through mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 45.4 : O Thomas to A Fernando, Driven through the covers by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 45.5 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, Punches this through the off side for a couple. |
| 45.6 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run. 10 from the over, 23 off the last 2. |
| 46.1 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, Very full ball, around middle, Thirimanne looks to dig it out but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. A single taken. |
| 46.2 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, Outside off, played through point for a run. |
| 46.3 : C Brathwaite to L Thirimanne, Full and outside leg, Thirimanne looks to flick but the ball goes off his pads through the off side and a leg bye is taken. |
| 46.4 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, MAIDEN ODI TON FOR FERNANDO! Boy, the entire Lankan dressing room is on its feet. What a knock. Is he the one for the future? A composed knock. Gets there with a flick through mid-wicket and runs hard for the second. |
| 46.5 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, FOUR! Is he opening up now? On middle and leg, Fernando heaves it over mid-wicket. There are two men in the deep and square leg runs to his left while mid-wicket goes to his right. But there is some miscommunication between the two fielders and the square leg fielder realizes late that he has to stop the ball. Ends up running sideways which turns out to be the longer route. In the end, cannot get to the ball. Brathwaite is not happy. |
| 46.6 : C Brathwaite to A Fernando, A yorker outside off, Avishka reaches out to drive but misses. |
| 47.1 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Full on middle, pushed through mid on for a single. |
| 47.2 : S Cottrell to A Fernando, OUT! Caught in the deep! Fernando falls soon after getting to his century. A short ball, outside off, Avishka looks to pull but does not quite hit it cleanly. Gets more height than distance and Fabian Allen covers good ground at deep mid-wicket, running in to take the catch. Fine knock from Fernando. Has taken Sri Lanka to a total which they would feel is defendable. Out comes Cottrell's salute. |
| Isuru Udana is the new man in. |
| 47.3 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Outside off, pushed through the covers for a couple. |
| 47.4 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, FOUR! Heaved hard. On middle and off, Thirimanne swings hard but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat. The deep mid-wicker fielder runs to his left and stretches his left hand out but the ball goes past. |
| 47.5 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Outside off, pushed through point for a single. |
| 47.6 : S Cottrell to I Udana, Slower ball again, on a length, on middle and off, watchfully defended. 8 runs and a wicket from the over, Cottrell's figures read 9-0-59-1. |
| Oshane Thomas to bowl. 9-1-52-0 so far. |
| 48.1 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, Yorker outside off, Thirimanne backs away and slices it towards short third man. Shannon Gabriel does well to stop it to his right. Good presence of mind to NOT THROW the ball because there was no one backing up at either end. Would have been an easy overthrow. |
| 48.2 : O Thomas to I Udana, Outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 48.3 : O Thomas to I Udana, NO BALL! Another high full toss. Udana pulls it down the ground for a couple. West Indies and no balls - a connection of everlasting love. |
| FREE HIT. 4th in this innings. Will this be made use of? |
| O Thomas to I Udana, And today, the connection between West Indies and Free Hits has been beautiful. 4 Free Hits conceded, no boundary on any of those. This is on a length outside off, squeezed through cover for a single. |
| 48.4 : O Thomas to L Thirimanne, A yorker now, well dug out. A single taken. |
| 48.5 : O Thomas to I Udana, Full on middle, almost a yorker, hit straight back. |
| 48.6 : O Thomas to I Udana, OUT! Caught! A wicket on his final ball for Thomas. Full and outside off, Udana looks to hit this over long off but cannot quite hit it cleanly. Finds Jason at long off who holds the catch cleanly. Err... if you did not get the rhyme, it was Jason Holder. Sorry for the bad joke. Not having a great day so far... Thomas finishes with figures of 10-1-58-1. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva finally comes out to bat. He will be on strike because the batsmen crossed before the catch was taken. |
| 49.1 : S Cottrell to de Silva, FOUR! Fine way to get off the mark! Outside off, de Silva waits for the ball to come to him and steers it past short third man for a boundary! |
| 49.2 : S Cottrell to de Silva, Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single. |
| 49.3 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Full and down the leg side, Thirimanne looks to heave but misses. He almost turns 360 degrees and the ball goes off his pads towards short third man. A leg bye taken. |
| 49.4 : S Cottrell to de Silva, Short and outside off, slower in pace, Dhananjaya looks to pull but the pace off the ball makes it difficult for him to connect cleanly. The ball goes to deep mid-wicket and it is just a single. |
| 49.5 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, Gets across to paddle but the ball is another slower one. Just 102 ks. Thirimanne can only get it across to deep square leg but the running is good. They come back for the second. |
| 49.6 : S Cottrell to L Thirimanne, A couple to end the innings. Full on middle, Thirimanne pushes it through mid on and charges back for the second. SRI LANKA FINISH ON 338/6! |
| A fabulous batting show by Sri Lanka. They started off well with their openers putting in a 93-run stand. Kusal Perera, in particular, was in red-hot form and gave a real beating to the West Indian bowlers. He got a couple of reprieves also but failed to convert his fifty. Avishka Fernando, though, notched up his maiden ODI hundred and entertained everyone with his fearless approach to batting. He was involved in three crucial stands with Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne respec |
| West Indies were very inconsistent with their bowling. Jason Holder was the pick of the bowlers while Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas also bowled well in patches. Fabian Allen also did a reasonable job in holding one end and his stunning catch to remove Kusal Mendis was one of the highlights of the first innings. |
| Avishka Fernando is down for a chat with Simon Doull. Says that he is very happy to have got a hundred, citing his training and hard work as the main reasons. On the pitch, Avishka replies that West Indies' fast bowling was good but the pitch was two-paced. Adds further that his century was possible only because of the support of his teammates. |
| Right then, it's a big chase for West Indies. So far, only one team has overhauled a 300-plus target in this edition of the World Cup and the Caribbean boys have the chance to do that here. The pitch is quite flat in nature and West Indies do have the firepower in their batting. Can they click as a unit? Do join us in a short while for the chase. |
| 0.0 : The run chase is upon us! Chris Gayle will open the innings with Sunil Ambris, who seems to have recovered after hurting his ankle while fielding. The Lankan players get into a huddle near the boundary line. They have plenty in the bank at the moment but need to spend carefully. Lasith Malinga to begin with the first new ball. |
| 0.1 : L Malinga to C Gayle, Play and a miss first ball! Too full in length and wide outside off, Gayle chases it away from his body but fails to keep it out. |
| 0.2 : L Malinga to C Gayle, Nice delivery, fuller and on off, a hint of inward shape, Gayle without much footwork pushes it out to covers. |
| 0.3 : L Malinga to C Gayle, A near yorker by Malinga, around middle, Gayle digs it out in front of mid off and scampers across to the other end. |
| 0.4 : L Malinga to S Ambris, Wide! The wind is just too strong at the moment and it's not easy for the bowlers. Malinga sprays a length ball wide down the leg side, Ambris swings his bat and misses. A good take by the keeper. |
| L Malinga to S Ambris, Very full and on off, Sunil tries to drive but it takes the outer half and rolls to point. The fielder there dives to his right to make the stop. |
| 0.5 : L Malinga to S Ambris, A very late decision to leave. Slower length ball outside off at 117 kph, Ambris is almost through his shot but then tries to pull his bat back. It goes very closely past the outside edge. |
| 0.6 : L Malinga to S Ambris, FOUR! Finds the fence! Malinga overpitches on off, Ambris presses forward and drives it through the gap between covers and cover-point for a boundary. |
| Spinner from the other end! Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl with a slip and leg slip in place. |
| 1.1 : de Silva to C Gayle, Everything happened in slow-mo! Fuller and around middle and leg, Gayle works it behind square leg and ambles back for the second run. The fine leg fielder took his own sweet time in releasing the throw back to the keeper. |
| 1.2 : de Silva to C Gayle, Beauty by the offie! Nice drift into the batsman, it's on a full length around off, Gayle draws forward in defense but it spins away to beat the outside edge and the off stump by less than an inch. |
| 1.3 : de Silva to C Gayle, Very full and on off,it's driven with the full face of the bat to long off for a run. |
| 1.4 : de Silva to S Ambris, Driven towards the mid off region. No run. |
| 1.5 : de Silva to S Ambris, Lovely drift into the right-hander, fuller and on middle, Ambris knocks it down through mid on for a run. |
| 1.6 : de Silva to C Gayle, Flatter and shorter on middle, fired into the batsman, Gayle moves back and punches it through the gap on the leg side at mid-wicket for one. |
| 2.1 : L Malinga to C Gayle, Slower one on the pads, Gayle looks to work it but misses. It hits his pad and rolls on the leg side. A leg bye taken. |
| 2.2 : L Malinga to S Ambris, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Malinga has bounced Ambris out! Early wicket for the Lankans. Dreadful start for the Windies. Lasith bangs it short and around off, Ambris looks to pull but does not get on top of the bounce. It hits the top edge and goes into the hands of Perera who makes no mistake. Another failure for Sunil. |
| Shai Hope is the new man in. 192 runs in this World Cup so far for him which includes a couple of fifties. West Indies require him to stand up today and deliver a big knock. |
| 2.3 : L Malinga to S Hope, On a good length and around off, Hope blocks it out. |
| 2.4 : L Malinga to S Hope, NO BALL! That came out wrong! Malinga looks to bowl the slower dipping yorker. It comes out wrong though, it ends up being a high full toss on the body which Hope ducks under. Free Hit coming up. Fifth of the game. |
| Free Hit time! |
| L Malinga to S Hope, FOUR! Hope takes full toll of it. He also gets off the mark. This is full and around off, Hope clears his front leg and smashes it through covers. No stopping those. |
| 2.5 : L Malinga to S Hope, Bowls it on a length this time and it is outside off, Hope looks to go after it but is beaten. |
| 2.6 : L Malinga to S Hope, Good length again around off, Hope guides it to point. A successful over for Lanka. |
| 3.1 : de Silva to C Gayle, Flatter and on middle, this is kept out. |
| 3.2 : de Silva to C Gayle, This is fired on the stumps, Gayle pushes it to mid on. |
| Run out appeal has been referred upstairs! Also, the bowler is down in pain here as the ball after hitting the wickets at the non-striker's end deflects to catch Dhananjaya on the back of his right leg. Gayle looks to be safely in though in the replays. |
| 3.3 : de Silva to C Gayle, NOT OUT! Gayle is well in! Not sure why they went up. This is worked through mid-wicket. The batters go for a run. The fielder picks the ball up and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. It then deflects onto the leg of de Silva. He though appeals and the umpire takes it upstairs. Replays show he is fine. |
| 3.4 : de Silva to S Hope, Floats it up on off, Hope hits it down to long on with the turn for one. |
| 3.5 : de Silva to C Gayle, Gives it air and lands this one outside off, Gayle strokes it to covers. |
| 3.6 : de Silva to C Gayle, A low full toss on off, Gayle hits it down to long off for one. Tidy over by de Silva. |
| 4.1 : L Malinga to C Gayle, Direct hit but Gayle is quick enough! Fuller and on middle, Gayle jams it out to mid off and goes for a run. The fielder does hit the stumps at the non-striker's end but Gayle is in. |
| 4.2 : L Malinga to S Hope, A little too straight this time, Hope works it to mid-wicket. |
| 4.3 : L Malinga to S Hope, Another one on the pads, Hope once again flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 4.4 : L Malinga to S Hope, A bumper now on middle, Hope ducks under it. |
| 4.5 : L Malinga to S Hope, Slower one outside off, it does not quite come off the surface. Hope mistimes his push back to the bowler. |
| 4.6 : L Malinga to S Hope, This is way too short, Hope lets it be and it has been wided. |
| L Malinga to S Hope, OUT! Drags it on! Malinga has got Hope. A big wicket as Hope could have been the anchor man in this chase. West Indies are in big trouble here. Another slower one by Malinga. This is outside off, Hope throws his bat at it but due to the slowness of the wicket, he gets an inside edge and it hits the stumps behind. Another successful over for Malinga comes to an end. |
| New batsman for West Indies is...any guesses? It's the fearless Shimron Hetmyer batting at 4 today, not Nicholas Pooran. Maybe to counter the spinners. He is known to be very swift with his footwork. |
| 5.1 : de Silva to C Gayle, On the stumps, Gayle blocks it out. |
| 5.2 : de Silva to C Gayle, This is fired on the pads, Gayle looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 5.3 : de Silva to C Gayle, Floats it up on off, this is eased down to long off for one. |
| 5.4 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Almost! This is flatter and it drifts in from outside off, Hetmyer goes back and looks to cut initially but then there is not enough room. He tries to keep it out but it goes off the inside edge, close past the leg pole and down towards fine leg for one. |
| 5.5 : de Silva to C Gayle, Flighted ball on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. |
| 5.6 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, A dot to end another good over by de Silva. This is floated up on off, this is driven to covers. |
| 6.1 : L Malinga to C Gayle, In the air... dropped! That would have been a blinder by Thirimanne! This is full and on the pads, Gayle flicks it uppishly in front of square. Thirimanne there dives full stretch to his right, sticks one hand out but the ball does not stick. A single taken. |
| 6.2 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, Full and wide outside off, Hetmyer looks to jam it out but it goes off the outside edge down to third man for one. |
| 6.3 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, Shorter and just outside off, Hetmyer pulls it down to mid on. |
| 6.4 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, EDGED! PUT DOWN! Mendis is culprit! That is a sitter. Hetmyer gets a life. The slower one outside off, it is just behind a driving length. Hetmyer goes after it but there is extra bounce. It takes the edge and goes towards widish first slip where Mendis spills it. This could prove costly as Hetmyer is a dangerous player. |
| 6.5 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, A bumper now and Hetmyer lets it be. |
| 6.6 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, A couple now! Short and on middle, Hetmyer was ready for this one, he pulls it through mid-wicket for two. End of an over in which two wickets could have fallen, none in the end. |
| 7.1 : de Silva to C Gayle, This is on the stumps, Gayle defends it out. |
| 7.2 : de Silva to C Gayle, BEATEN! This is tossed up outside off, Gayle lunges and looks to defend but the ball turns away and beats the outside edge. |
| 7.3 : de Silva to C Gayle, Flatter and on middle, this is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 7.4 : de Silva to C Gayle, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 7.5 : de Silva to C Gayle, Quick run! This is pushed back to the left of the bowler. De Silva dives and pushes it away to mid on. Gayle then goes for a run and completes it. |
| 7.6 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Direct hit and it would have been close! Flatter and on middle, Hetmyer pushes it to mid on and takes off. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. Another good over by de Silva. He is keeping it tight and Malinga is taking the wickets. Working in combination. |
| 8.1 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, On the stumps, Hetmyer defends it to mid on. |
| 8.2 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, On the pads, this is worked to mid-wicket. |
| 8.3 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, On the fuller side on off, Hetmyer hits it to covers. |
| 8.4 : L Malinga to S Hetmyer, Misfield and a run! Fuller around off, this is firmly driven towards mid off. Mathews there does not stop it cleanly and a run is taken. |
| 8.5 : L Malinga to C Gayle, A bumper to Gayle who just manages to duck under it in time. |
| 8.6 : L Malinga to C Gayle, Another bumper, this is slower in pace! Gayle again ducks under it. Just the single from the over. |
| 9.1 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Fuller and on middle, Hetmyer hits it nicely but straight to mid on. |
| 9.2 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Floats it up on off, Hetmyer strokes it to covers. |
| 9.3 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Hetmyer dances down the track and looks to go big but he does not get to the pitch of it. It goes off the inner half through mid-wicket for two. |
| 9.4 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, Flatter and on off, SH pushes it to covers. |
| 9.5 : de Silva to S Hetmyer, This is eased down to long on for one. |
| 9.6 : de Silva to C Gayle, Gayle now strokes it down to long off for one. Sri Lanka's Powerplay 1. West Indies are 37 for 2. They are 12 runs behind of Sri Lanka's score after the first 10 and have also lost two more wickets. 302 needed in 239. |
| Powerplay 3 has been signaled! Now a maximum of 4 fielders can be placed outside the ring till the 40th over. Isuru Udana has been brought on. |
| 10.1 : I Udana to C Gayle, Starts well with a fuller length ball on off, Gayle gets behind the line and blocks it to the off side. |
| 10.2 : I Udana to C Gayle, Slower one this time, deceiving the big man, it's on a length and outside off, Gayle flashes his bat early and misses. |
| 10.3 : I Udana to C Gayle, Goes very full and straight with this delivery, Chris knocks it down through mid on for a run. |
| 10.4 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it from the crease to extra cover. |
| 10.5 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, A leg cutter this time, landing around off and curling back in, Hetmyer works it behind square leg and returns for the second run. |
| 10.6 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, FOUR! Bang! No stopping this one! Udana offers width outside off, it's short and wide, Hetmyer stays back and blazes it through covers for a boundary. |
| Kasun Rajitha is on now! He has got good pace and can hurry up the batsman. |
| 11.1 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Good length and outside off, Gayle first looks to put bat on ball but then bails out. |
| 11.2 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, FOUR! Up and over! Gayle may have decided to target Rajitha. Full and outside off, Gayle lofts it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 11.3 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Gayle looks to go again but this time Rajitha bowls it shorter and on middle, cramping the batter for room. Gayle looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It rolls on the off side and the batters take one. |
| 11.4 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, Shorter and outside off, Hetmyer slaps it through covers for one. 50 up for the Windies. |
| 11.5 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Slower ball and on off, Gayle pushes it to mid off. |
| 11.6 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Closer to the off pole again, Gayle only manages to chop it to point. So despite going for a boundary, only 6 comes from the over. |
| 12.1 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Good keeping! This is way down the leg side, Hetmyer misses the flick. Perera runs to his right and then dives and stops it. Wided. |
| I Udana to S Hetmyer, This is on middle, Hetmyer works it to mid-wicket. |
| 12.2 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Slower one and Udana follows Hetmyer. He looks to pull but it goes off the inner half towards square leg for one. |
| 12.3 : I Udana to C Gayle, On the shorter side on off, Gayle defends it beside the wicket. He thinks of a run but is sent back. |
| 12.4 : I Udana to C Gayle, Another short ball, Gayle pulls it towards deep square leg for one. |
| 12.5 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Another slower one and on the shorter side, Hetmyer pulls it through mid-wicket and takes one. |
| Now then... the umpire feels the over is done but he then he has been informed there is one more ball to go. |
| 12.6 : I Udana to C Gayle, A dot to end! Just the 4 from this over. Back of a length on off, this is guided to point. |
| 13.1 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, Outside off, Hetmyer slaps it through covers and a single is taken. |
| 13.2 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, SIX! Just clears the ropes! First of the chase! It is a slower one on middle, the length is short though. Gayle waits for it and then pulls it towards the longer part. It clears the mid-wicket fence though. |
| 13.3 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Good fielding! This is on a length and around off, Gayle hits it towards cover where the fielder dives to his right and stops it. Saves at least two. |
| 13.4 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Almost plays it on! Lovely bowling! This is slower and fuller outside off, Gayle is a touch early in the stroke. He gets an inside edge which goes past the off pole and to the keeper. |
| 13.5 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, Another slower one! Gayle this time plays it sensibly, he guides it through covers for one. |
| 13.6 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, Extremely full and on middle, Hetmyer looks to jam it out but gets an inside edge onto the pads. So a good comeback by the bowler after going for a biggie. Just a single after that. |
| 14.1 : I Udana to C Gayle, This is on the pads, Gayle works it to mid-wicket. |
| 14.2 : I Udana to C Gayle, A huge appeal but not given! This is full and around off, Gayle looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls on the off side and the batters go for a run. The bowler is appealing but the umpire shakes his head. |
| 14.3 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Into the body of the batter, Hetmyer looks to work it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat too early. It goes off the leading edge to point. |
| 14.4 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, On the shorter side, Hetmyer pulls it through mid-wicket and takes one. |
| 14.5 : I Udana to C Gayle, Good length and on the off pole, Gayle defends it out. |
| 14.6 : I Udana to C Gayle, A single to end another good over by Udana. This is on the pads, it is worked to the left of mid-wicket for one. |
| 15.1 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, SIX! Low full toss and put away! Ideal start to the over for West Indies. It is on middle, Gayle lofts it over mid on, no fielder in the deep and it clears the rope. |
| 15.2 : K Rajitha to C Gayle, OUT! In the air... taken! Gayle is out of here. Rajitha has the last laugh. The hopes of West Indies chasing this down have been dented big time. Not sure if this shot was needed having got a biggie on the last ball. This is on a length and around middle, Gayle looks to heave it across the line but only manages a top edge. It goes high up in the air towards backward point where Vandersay settles under it and takes it. Falls over after doing so. 268 needed in 208 balls |
| Drinks break. Nicholas Pooran is the new batsman out in the centre. West Indies going nowhere in this chase. They have been struggling to get the boundaries and now, with Gayle gone, the target looks even steeper. Sri Lanka have done really well, keeping the basics right and sticking to their belief. On course for a big win. |
| 15.3 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, This is down the leg side, Hetmyer looks to flick but misses. Wided. |
| K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, FOUR! Fortunate boundary! This is on a length and outside off, Hetmyer looks to push at it but it goes off the inside edge, past the leg pole and down to the fine leg fence. |
| 15.4 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, This is on the pads, Hetmyer looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It rolls on the leg side for one. |
| Good learning from Kasun Rajitha. The ball before the wicket, which was hit for a six, was short. But the wicket ball was slightly fuller than that one. Good to see that the youngster learnt from his mistake and eventually got his man. |
| An appeal for a run out has been taken upstairs. Pooran is the man in question. He seems relaxed. |
| 15.5 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, NOT OUT! Pooran is in but a big mix-up there. This is on middle, it is pushed towards the bowler who misfields. Pooran wants a run and rushes towards the other end. Hetmyer sends him back. The fielder gets to the ball and fires it to the keeper who takes the bails off and appeals. The umpire takes it upstairs and replays show that Pooran is in. |
| 15.6 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, A single to end an action-packed over, 13 from it but the big wicket of Gayle as well. This is on the pads, it is worked around the corner for one. |
| 16.1 : I Udana to N Pooran, On the pads, this is worked through square leg. The call is for two but the batters stick to one. |
| 16.2 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Good length on off, this is defended. |
| 16.3 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Slower one and outside off, Hetmyer mistimes it through covers for one. |
| 16.4 : I Udana to N Pooran, On the shorter side again, Pooran pulls it towards deep backward square leg for one. |
| 16.5 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Shorter and outside off, Hetmyer looks to cut but it goes off the bottom to short third man. |
| 16.6 : I Udana to S Hetmyer, Good fielding again! This is shorter and on middle, Hetmyer pulls it hard towards mid-wicket. The fielder dives to his left and makes a half stop. Can't stop the single though. |
| 17.1 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, Good length ball on off, Hetmyer drives it towards sweeper cover and gets an easy single. |
| 17.2 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Fuller outside off, Pooran drives it towards point. Dhananjaya there dives to his right but fumbles, allowing Pooran to get to the other end. |
| Yesterday, in the nets, bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed was bowling throwdowns to Nicholas Pooran. The focus seemed to be on the front foot movement. He was trying to get his cover and off drives perfect. Let's see whether that practice helps him today. |
| 17.3 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, On the off stump line, Hetmyer defends it off the front foot. |
| 17.4 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, Swing and a miss. Kasun bowls it on a length outside off, Hetmyer swings his bat at it but misses. Rajitha puts in an appeal but the keeper does not go up. |
| 17.5 : K Rajitha to S Hetmyer, OUT! Run Out! This is disastrous. Back of a length ball on off, Hetmyer runs it down to the right of backward point. Shimron strokes it there and casually goes for the run. Pooran though looks that Dhananjaya has got to the ball quickly so he sends him back. But he is too late as Hetmyer is halfway down. De Silva takes his time, aims and hits the stumps. Hetmyer is nowhere in the frame and has to walk back dejected. Hetmyer's second run out in this tournament. He su |
| Out walks the skipper, Jason Holder. |
| 17.6 : K Rajitha to J Holder, Yorker on the pads, Holder looks to hit but misses. |
| Time for some leg spin! Jeffrey Vandersay to bowl his first over of this World Cup. With a left-hander in the middle, it's going to be a great battle. |
| 18.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Shorter on off, Pooran punches it to mid off. |
| 18.2 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, WIDE! Bowls it way outside off, Pooran leaves it and it has been wided. |
| J Vandersay to N Pooran, Loopy ball on the pads, Pooran flicks it but finds mid-wicket. |
| 18.3 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Tossed up on middle and leg, Pooran flicks it wide of mid-wicket and gets a single. |
| 18.4 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Drag down this. Holder misses out on it and just pulls it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 18.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Another drag down and this time Pooran does not make the most of it. He punches it to long off and gets a single. |
| 18.6 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Quicker one, Holder looks to cut but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball was too close to cut there and Holder is lucky that he doesn't chop it on. |
| 19.1 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, On the pads, Pooran looks to flick but misses. The ball hits him on his pad. There is a stifled appeal but the umpire is not interested. The pitching seemed to be outside leg. |
| 19.2 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Fuller outside off, Pooran goes for the big drive but misses. |
| 19.3 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, On middle, Pooran flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets a single. |
| 19.4 : K Rajitha to J Holder, WIDE! Rajitha misses his line and bowls it down the leg side to the right-hander. Holder looks to flick but misses. It has been wided. |
| K Rajitha to J Holder, Length ball on off, Holder punches it off the inner half of his bat to mid on. |
| 19.5 : K Rajitha to J Holder, FOUR! Lovely timing this. Holder uses his long legs to get his front foot to the pitch of the ball and drives this length ball with ease and class through cover-point for a boundary. |
| 19.6 : K Rajitha to J Holder, Follows it up with a solid front foot defense. |
| 20.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Shorter on off, Pooran punches it to sweeper cover and gets a single. |
| 20.2 : J Vandersay to J Holder, FIVE WIDES! Vandersay bowls it short and wide down the leg side, Holder looks to pull but misses. The keeper misses too and the ball goes behind to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| J Vandersay to J Holder, Better this. Leg spinner pitching around off, Holder looks to defend but misses. |
| 20.3 : J Vandersay to J Holder, FOUR! Crisp! Loopy leg spinner on off, Holder strides out and drives it with class through point for a boundary. |
| 20.4 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Now milks the ball to long off and gets a sensible single. |
| 20.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, On the pads, Pooran flicks it but finds short mid-wicket. |
| 20.6 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Once again plays it with the spin and flicks it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| There is a bowling change. Dhananjaya de Silva is back into the attack to bowl his offies. 5-0-17-0, he was very economical in his first spell inside Powerplay 1. |
| 21.1 : de Silva to J Holder, FOUR! Brilliantly timed! Tossed up on middle, Holder flicks it through mid-wicket. The man in the deep runs and dives to his left but cannot keep the ball in play. |
| 21.2 : de Silva to J Holder, Floated on middle, Holder strokes it to mid off. |
| 21.3 : de Silva to J Holder, Flighted on off, Holder milks this to long on and takes one. |
| 21.4 : de Silva to N Pooran, Shorter on off, Pooran punches it but finds mid on. |
| 21.5 : de Silva to N Pooran, Once again slightly short on off, Pooran eases it to sweeper cover and gets to the other end. |
| 21.6 : de Silva to J Holder, Tossed up on the pads, Holder defends it to mid-wicket. |
| 22.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Quicker on the pads, Pooran flicks it to the on side and gets a single. |
| 0.0 : Stumping appeal is referred upstairs. Has Kusal Perera taken the bails off just in time? The replays find that though it was nice thinking from the keeper to wait before removing the bails, Holder's right leg never left the crease. He dragged it just a bit but had it nicely planted all the time. |
| 22.2 : J Vandersay to J Holder, NOT OUT! Smart work from Perera but to no use. Floated around off, Holder looks to defend but the retracts. Perera waits for Holder to lift his back foot up but the toes were in when Kusal takes off the bails. Had Kusal waited a bit longer, he might have had his man. |
| 22.3 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Floated on off, Holder drives it to the man at cover. |
| 22.4 : J Vandersay to J Holder, FOUR! Full toss and rightfully punished. It is on off, Holder drives it through covers. The man in the deep runs to his right and puts a dive but it is in vain. |
| 22.5 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Follows it up with a calm front foot defense. |
| 22.6 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Floated on off, Holder defends it. |
| 23.1 : de Silva to N Pooran, Floated on off, Pooran drives it to cover. |
| 23.2 : de Silva to N Pooran, Shorter on off, Pooran plays it to point. |
| 23.3 : de Silva to N Pooran, Flatter and outside off, Pooran goes back and pushes it wide of sweeper cover for two. |
| 23.4 : de Silva to N Pooran, Floats it up on off, this is hit to covers. |
| 23.5 : de Silva to N Pooran, On the stumps, this is driven towards mid off for no runs. |
| 23.6 : de Silva to N Pooran, Driven towards the mid off region. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 24.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Floats it on the stumps, this is worked throughmid on for one. |
| 24.2 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Flighted ball outside off, this is driven through covers for one. |
| 24.3 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, The googly on the pads, Pooran sweeps it through backward square leg for one. |
| 24.4 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Another single as this low full toss is driven down to long off. |
| 24.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Gets away with one there does Vandersay. This is shorter and outside off, Pooran throws his bat at it, it goes off the outside edge towards backward point where Malinga dives to his right and saves three. |
| 24.6 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Lovely shot! Two to end the over! Very full around off, Holder creams it through covers. The fielder in the ring might have got a hand to it as it slows down as it reaches the ropes. The sweeper runs to his right and saves two for his side. |
| 25.1 : de Silva to N Pooran, FOUR! Brilliant shot! A very difficult shot. This is tossed up on middle, Pooran strokes it back past mid on for a boundary. Not easy to play an on-drive to a offie as it is turning away from Pooran. |
| 0.0 : Another stumping appeal! Is Pooran gone? It has been referred upstairs. 'Grounded, grounded.' is the voice of third umpire S Ravi. Safe. |
| 25.2 : de Silva to N Pooran, NOT OUT! Pooran's foot is grounded! Good delivery though. This is flatter and around off, it pitches and turns away. Pooran looks to drive but is beaten. Kusal whips the bails off and appeals. The umpire takes it upstairs. Replays show Pooran is fine. |
| 25.3 : de Silva to N Pooran, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 25.4 : de Silva to N Pooran, Shorter and around off, Pooran cuts towards point where the fielder makes a half-stop. A run is taken. |
| 25.5 : de Silva to J Holder, Flatter and on middle, this is punched down to long on for one. |
| 25.6 : de Silva to N Pooran, On the stumps again, it is kept out again. |
| 26.1 : J Vandersay to J Holder, On the stumps, this is blocked. |
| 26.2 : J Vandersay to J Holder, Another crisp cover drive but towards the sweeper, so only a run. |
| 26.3 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Flatter and on middle, this is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 26.4 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, FOUR! Hammered! A hit-me ball. Short and on middle, Pooran goes back and pulls it over the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary. 50-run is also up. They need to keep going. |
| 26.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Very full and on middle, this is worked towards mid-wicket where the fielder makes a good stop. |
| 26.6 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Another dot to end as Pooran once again works it to mid-wicket. |
| 27.1 : de Silva to J Holder, Shorter and on middle, this is worked towards mid-wicket. He does not stop it cleanly and a run is conceded. |
| 27.2 : de Silva to N Pooran, Flatter and on off, Pooran pushes it to covers. |
| 27.3 : de Silva to N Pooran, FOUR! This is a lovely shot. Deft touch! Flatter and outside off, Pooran goes back, plays it late, pierces the gap between backward point and point and bags a boundary. |
| 27.4 : de Silva to N Pooran, On the stumps, this is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 27.5 : de Silva to N Pooran, On the stumps, Pooran pushes it to the right of the bowler and wants a run but is sent back. |
| 27.6 : de Silva to N Pooran, A single to end! Flatter and on middle, Pooran goes back and pushes it to mid on for one. |
| 28.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, WIDE! That has been given late! This is down the leg side, Pooran looks to sweep but misses. Umpire initially does not signal it as a wide but then the batter asks him whether it is a wide or no and then he gives it. |
| J Vandersay to N Pooran, A full toss, Pooran fails to take full toll of it, he hits it towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 28.2 : J Vandersay to J Holder, OUT! Straight to the man! The partnership which started to flourish has been cut short. Half the side back in the hut. Vandersay gets his first. He tosses it up on middle, it was there to hit. Holder looks to go over mid on but it comes off the lower portion of the bat and goes straight to Jeevan Mendis, the sub. He grabs it over his head standing inside the ring. West Indies need 194 in 130 balls. |
| Carlos 'Remember the name' Brathwaite walks in. Can he play an innings worth remembering? |
| 28.3 : J Vandersay to C Brathwaite, Floats it up outside off, this is creamed through covers for one. |
| 28.4 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Another full toss and Pooran once again fails to put it away. He looks to sweep but it goes off the inside edge onto the pads. |
| 28.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, FOUR! Straight back over the bowler! This is very full and on middle, Pooran smashes it through mid off and it races away to the fence. 150 up for West Indies. |
| 28.6 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Shorter and on middle, Pooran pulls it through wide mid on for two. 9 from the over but Vandersay took an important wicket. |
| Change in bowling. Kasun Rajitha has been inserted back into the attack. He was quite wayward in his first spell and went for 35 runs in 5 overs. Although he managed to get the prized scalp of Chris Gayle. Would like to be neat and tidy in this spell. |
| 29.1 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, BYE! Shorter and outside off, Brathwaite does go after it but misses. It bounces in front of the keeper who fails to collect it. It goes behind towards third man for one run. |
| 29.2 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Shorter and outside off, the batter looks to pull but misses. |
| 29.3 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, On the pads, Pooran looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls on the leg side and a run is taken. |
| 29.4 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, Outside off, Brathwaite first looks to go after it but then tries to pull out at the end. |
| 29.5 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, NO BALL! Rajitha has overstepped by a long way. Good length on off, this is pushed to covers. Free Hit coming up. |
| Free Hit! |
| K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, Nothing off it! Shorter and slower outside off, Brathwaite swings across the line but misses it by a long way. He is swinging it blindly. |
| 29.6 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, FOUR! Straight down the ground! This should get Brathwaite going. Full and on off, Brathwaite strokes it with a straight bat past the bowler and it races to the fence. 7 from the over, 180 needed in 120. |
| 30.1 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Very short and outside off, Pooran looks to slap it but ends up chopping it. |
| 30.2 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, A couple! Short again and outside off, Pooran cuts it past point. The fielder in the deep runs to his right, slides and keeps it to two. |
| 30.3 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Floats it up outside off, it turns back in. Pooran looks to hit it on the off side but it goes off the inner half back to the bowler. |
| 30.4 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, FOUR! Swept and swept nicely! This is on the pads, Pooran goes down on one knee and hits it through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 30.5 : J Vandersay to N Pooran, Shorter and around off, this is flat-batted down to long on for one. |
| 30.6 : J Vandersay to C Brathwaite, Down the leg side, CB lets it be. Perera fails to collect and it has been wided. Also a run is taken. |
| J Vandersay to N Pooran, A dot to end but a good over for West Indies. Flatter and on off, this is pushed back to the bowler. 171 needed in 114. |
| 31.1 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, Good length and outside off, Brathwaite mistimes it on the off side. |
| 31.2 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, On the pads, CB works it through square leg for one. |
| 31.3 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, On the stumps, Pooran pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 31.4 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Two byes! Shorter and outside off, Pooran looks to pull but once again it does not bounce as much as he expected it to. Misses. Lands in front of Perera who does not stop it cleanly. It goes down to fine leg for two. |
| 31.5 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Good length and on off, this is pushed towards mid off for one. |
| 31.6 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, Back of a length on off, Brathwaite is happy to block it out. |
| Drinks break. 167 needed off 108 balls with five wickets in hand. Nicholas Pooran and Carlos Brathwaite have the caliber to take this close and even win it but they need to be very careful with their shot selection. Carlos showed that against New Zealand and nearly took West Indies home that evening without much support from the other end. Sri Lanka are on top and just need to keep bowling tidy overs and wait for the mistakes. Let's see which way this chase heads now. It can be either down to th |
| 32.1 : D Karunaratne to N Pooran, SIX! Welcome into the attack, Karunaratne! They have to make this a big over. Also, Pooran brings his fifty up in style. He holds the hope for West Indies. This is short and on off, it sits up to be hit. Pooran sends it sailing into the mid-wicket stand. |
| 32.2 : D Karunaratne to N Pooran, Goes fuller now and on off, this is hit down to long off for one. |
| 32.3 : D Karunaratne to C Brathwaite, A dot! Outside off, Brathwaite looks to guide it but misses. |
| 32.4 : D Karunaratne to C Brathwaite, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. |
| 32.5 : D Karunaratne to C Brathwaite, Three dots in a row! Fuller and on middle, CB plays it towards mid-wicket who dives to his right and saves a run. |
| 32.6 : D Karunaratne to C Brathwaite, A better throw and Brathwaite would have been a goner! This is outside off, Brathwaite swings but it goes off the outside edge to short third man. He sets off but is sent back. Mathews throws it off balance and hence, it is not a good one. Brathwaite gets back in time. So despite going for a biggie on the first ball, just 7 from it. |
| 33.1 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Shorter and down the leg side, Pooran swings but misses. Wided. |
| K Rajitha to N Pooran, FOUR! Once again a boundary early on in the over! Pooran dances down the track and Rajitha bowls it short. Pooran pulls it over the mid-wicket fielder and into the fence. |
| 33.2 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, On the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket for one. So 6 from the first two balls. |
| 33.3 : K Rajitha to C Brathwaite, Shorter and outside off, Carlos slaps it through covers for one. |
| 33.4 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, SIX! Pooran has picked the bones out of that one! He is on the charge here. This is short and on the body, Pooran picks the length early and hammers it into the square leg stands. |
| 33.5 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Almost plays it on! This is a good ball, slower and fuller outside off, Pooran goes too hard at it, it goes off the inside edge over the stumps and to the keeper. |
| 33.6 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Two now! A very good over. 15 from it. Full and outside off, this is carved over the point fielder for two. |
| Isuru Udana is back on! 4-0-18-0 so far. |
| 34.1 : I Udana to C Brathwaite, Slower one on off, Brathwaite does the right thing, he waits for it and guides it to point for one. Gives the strike to Pooran. 50-run stand up. Consecutive ones for West Indies but they need a big one here. |
| 34.2 : I Udana to N Pooran, FOUR MORE! Pooran is dealing in bounaries! But this is a poor ball. It is short and down the leg side, Pooran pulls it through backward square leg and bags a boundary. |
| Has Udana got a touch there? If he has Brathwaite is surely short and this could be a very unfortunate end to his innings. |
| 34.3 : I Udana to N Pooran, OUT! It has brushed his fingers and Brathwaite is way out! Unfortunate end to his innings and once again a partnership which was starting to look good has been cut short. Udana bowls this fuller and on middle, Pooran strokes it back uppishly towards the bowler. Udana stretches his left hand out and tries to take the catch but the ball seems to have brushed his fingers and goes onto hit the stumps. He appeals and the umpire takes it upstairs. Replays roll in and they sh |
| Fabian Allen arrives next to bat. All he needs to do is to partner Nicholas Pooran who is batting superbly at the moment. |
| 34.4 : I Udana to N Pooran, Fuller and on the pads, Pooran works it to short fine leg. A little to the left or the right, it would have been a boundary. |
| 34.5 : I Udana to N Pooran, Shorter and on middle, Pooran pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one. 200 comes up. |
| 34.6 : I Udana to F Allen, BEATEN! The seam-up delivery this time, it lands on off and then angles away. Allen looks to push at it but misses. |
| In comes Lasith Malinga into the attack. Four wickets left. He has two to his name. Can he finish things off and get a 5-fer? |
| 35.1 : L Malinga to N Pooran, Good fielding! A good shot too! This is full and outside off, it is the slower one. Pooran lofts it over the mid off fielder. It is not right off the middle. Mathews gives it a chase and pushes it back in. Three taken. |
| 35.2 : L Malinga to F Allen, Goes fuller and on the pads, Allen works it through square leg and bags two. |
| 35.3 : L Malinga to F Allen, A yorker but on the pads, Allen looks to flick but misses. It hits the pads and rolls towards fine leg. A single taken. No signal from the umpire so there might be an inside edge. |
| 35.4 : L Malinga to N Pooran, A full toss on off, this is hit down to long off for one. |
| 35.5 : L Malinga to F Allen, Another low full toss outside off, Allen hits it to mid on. He needs to hang in there with Pooran. |
| 35.6 : L Malinga to F Allen, Slower one on middle, Allen picks it and keeps it out. |
| 36.1 : I Udana to N Pooran, Slower one outside off, Pooran looks to smash it through the off side but misses. |
| 36.2 : I Udana to N Pooran, Fuller and on middle, this is eased down to long on for one. |
| 36.3 : I Udana to F Allen, Back of a length on off, this is guided to point. |
| 36.4 : I Udana to F Allen, Another dot! Wide outside off, Allen looks to cut but misses. |
| 36.5 : I Udana to F Allen, A single now as Allen gets bat on ball and guides it through point. |
| 36.6 : I Udana to N Pooran, FOUR! EDGY! West Indies won't mind how they come as long as they come. Short and outside off, Pooran slashes, the ball flies off the outside edge to the third man fence. |
| 37.1 : L Malinga to F Allen, A bumper down the leg side, Allen looks to pull but misses. Wided. |
| L Malinga to F Allen, FOUR! This will help, this will really help, West Indies would want Allen to chip in here. He gets a boundary this time. This is on the pads, this is flicked through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 37.2 : L Malinga to F Allen, Very full on middle, Allen jams it out past the bowler. Mathews runs to his left and stops it with a dive. A single taken. |
| 37.3 : L Malinga to N Pooran, A yorker outside off, Pooran fails to jam it out. |
| 37.4 : L Malinga to N Pooran, This is on the pads, Pooran looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. It rolls on the leg side and a run is taken. Leg bye taken. |
| 37.5 : L Malinga to F Allen, FOUR! Second boundary in the over! Allen has hit both. Malinga misses his yorker and it ends up begin a full ball on middle, Allen lifts it over mid-wicket and bags a boundary. |
| 37.6 : L Malinga to F Allen, A single to end! A low full toss on middle, this is hit towards mid on for one. 12 from the over. 114 needed in 72 balls. |
| 38.1 : I Udana to F Allen, Shorter and outside off, Allen guides it down to third man and takes one. |
| 38.2 : I Udana to N Pooran, Fuller and on off, Pooran strokes it to mid off. |
| 38.3 : I Udana to N Pooran, On the shorter side outside off, Pooran cuts it to point. |
| 38.4 : I Udana to F Allen, FOUR! Clobbered! A slower one outside off, Allen stays leg side of the ball and smashes it through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 38.5 : I Udana to F Allen, Shorter and outside off, Allen looks to cut but misses. |
| 38.6 : I Udana to F Allen, Good fielding but three to end the over! A full toss on the pads, this is flicked through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep runs to his left, slides and pushes it back in. 9 from this over. 105 needed in 66 balls. |
| 39.1 : L Malinga to F Allen, FOUR! Allen is dealing in boundaries! Once again Malinga misses the yorker and pays the price. It is full and outside off, Allen hits it through mid off and it races away. Ideal start to the over. |
| 39.2 : L Malinga to F Allen, Just over! A couple! Slower one outside off, Allen looks to go over covers but mistimes it. It still clears the cover fielder and the batters take two. |
| 39.3 : L Malinga to F Allen, Well played! Malinga bowls the slower one on off, Allen picks it, he defends it towards cover and takes a run. |
| 39.4 : L Malinga to N Pooran, Another quick run! Sensible stuff! This is on off, Pooran pushes it through covers for one. |
| 39.5 : L Malinga to F Allen, Once again a single which is fine for this over! Length and outside off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 39.6 : L Malinga to N Pooran, One more single! 10 from the over. Fuller and on off, this is hit down to long off for one. 95 needed in the last 10 overs. |
| Powerplay 3 begins! Now, Sri Lanka can have five fielders outside the ring. Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl out. |
| 40.1 : de Silva to N Pooran, SIX! What a start to the over! 250 up for the Windies. They are surely still in it. This is a half-tracker. Pooran goes back and pulls it hard over the square leg fence for a biggie. Another 50-run stand, three back-to-back fifty run stands. This partnership though holds the hopes. |
| 40.2 : de Silva to N Pooran, Flatter and on off, this is pushed to the bowler. |
| 40.3 : de Silva to N Pooran, Around off again, Pooran pushes it to covers. |
| 40.4 : de Silva to N Pooran, Shorter and outside off, Pooran looks to cut but finds point. |
| 40.5 : de Silva to N Pooran, FOUR! Underedge but Pooran won't care! This is flatter and outside off, Pooran looks to cut but the line is a little too close. It goes off the bottom edge, between the keeper's legs and to the third man fence. |
| 40.6 : de Silva to N Pooran, Sensible batting! Keeps strike now as he eases it down to long off for one. 11 from the 41st. Slowly but steadily, the pressure is building on Sri Lanka. |
| Kasun Rajitha returns into the attack. He has been quite expensive, going in at more than 7. He has two remaining now, and 14 of those two won't be too bad given the context of the match. 84 needed off 54 balls. |
| 41.1 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Very full and wide outside off, Pooran drives it through cover-point for a run. |
| 41.2 : K Rajitha to F Allen, Shortish and on off, hammed down to long on for one. |
| 41.3 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Play and a miss! So far so good from Rajitha. Slower one, full and on off, Pooran mistimes his drive back towards the bowler. |
| 41.4 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Uppish, just over the bowler. Again a slower one, on a length around middle at 109 kph, Pooran brings down a straight bat and it comes off the inside half. It loops over the jumping bowler for one. |
| 41.5 : K Rajitha to F Allen, FOUR! Nearly carried all the way. Fabian is playing a little gem here. Picks the slower short ball early, turns inside the crease and murders it via a pull shot over mid-wicket. It lands just before the fence and goes over. The onfield umpire confirms from upstairs before signalling a boundary. |
| 41.6 : K Rajitha to F Allen, A full toss on off, Allen mistimes it down to mid off. 7 from the over, not a bad result for Sri Lanka. |
| Isuru Udana is back on! |
| 42.1 : I Udana to N Pooran, An excellent yorker on middle, Pooran jams it down to long off for one. He moves onto 97. |
| 42.2 : I Udana to F Allen, FOUR! Excellently played! This is on a length and around off, Allen plays it late and he gets it past short third man for a boundary. |
| 42.3 : I Udana to F Allen, A mix-up, a collision but no harm done! Back of a length on middle, Allen defends it to the right of the wicket. Pooran wants a run but collides with the bowler. He keeps his balance and gets back in time. |
| 42.4 : I Udana to F Allen, FOUR! Pressure, this is pressure here! This is down the leg side, Allen sweeps it towards short fine leg. It bounces just in front of the fielder there who fails to field it and the ball races to the fence. |
| 42.5 : I Udana to F Allen, Shorter and outside off, Allen looks to slap it but misses. |
| 42.6 : I Udana to F Allen, A dot to end but 9 from the over. Good length and on middle, this is defended. |
| 43.1 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Edge but short! Slower one outside off, Pooran looks to hit it through the off side but it goes off the outside edge and falls just short of the keeper. More importantly a dot. |
| 43.2 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Slower one and wide outside off, left alone. It has been wided. |
| K Rajitha to N Pooran, Fuller and outside off, Pooran hits it through covers for one. Singles won't harm Sri Lanka. |
| 43.3 : K Rajitha to F Allen, SIX! What a hit this is from Fabien Allen! WOW! Even Rihanna in the stands is impressed. The one boundary they need in every over has come here. This is full and on middle, Allen lofts it over the bowler's head. It goes all the way. |
| 43.4 : K Rajitha to F Allen, A full toss outside off, this is hit through covers for one. Fifty up for Allen. A brilliant knock by him. Probably a match-winning one. The job is not done yet. This is full toss on off, this is hit through covers for one. |
| 43.5 : K Rajitha to N Pooran, Pooran moves onto 99 as he strokes this through covers for one. |
| 43.6 : K Rajitha to F Allen, A full toss on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. 11 from the over, 57 needed in 36. |
| 44.1 : I Udana to F Allen, OUT! Run out! Rihana maybe in attendance but the song of Taylor Swift - 'Trouble, Trouble' is playing in my mind. Complete miscommunication here and yet another fifty stand is broken through run out. A delivery down the leg side, Fabian flicks it towards short fine leg and Pooran wants to have a run in spite of the striker not showing much interest. Rajitha in the meanwhile picks up the ball and parries it to the bowler who does the rest. Not even in the frame, Fabian. |
| 0.0 : Sheldon Cottrell walks out to the middle. He needs to hang in there with Pooran. That is his job. |
| 44.2 : I Udana to N Pooran, 100 for Pooran! Brilliant, brilliant innings! His first in ODIs and hopefully of many to come. Also, what a time to score your first ton, his team was down and out but his innings has brought them back. He needs to stay there right till the end though. This is fuller and on middle, Nicholas flicks it through mid-wicket for two. |
| 44.3 : I Udana to N Pooran, A dot! Fuller and on middle, Pooran hits it back to the bowler. |
| 44.4 : I Udana to N Pooran, WIDE! Down the leg side, Pooran looks to swing but misses. Wide signaled. |
| I Udana to N Pooran, SIX! What a sound that made off the bat! That has been hit with the wind. Short and on the body, Pooran waits for it and pulls it over the backward square leg fence for a biggie. |
| 44.5 : I Udana to N Pooran, This is fuller and on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. Cottrell has one ball to play out. |
| 44.6 : I Udana to S Cottrell, He does so! Udana attacks the stumps and Sheldon keeps it out. 47 needed in the last 5. |
| Lasith Malinga is back into the attack. He has two vital overs up his sleeves. That's the game, to be honest. |
| 45.1 : L Malinga to N Pooran, DROPPED AND FOUR! That has been misjudged horribly. Has Perera, the sub, dropped the game? Well, we will find out. Malinga bowls it full and on off, Pooran lofts it towards long off. He has not got enough on it. Perera though runs in then realizes it is going over him. Looks to recover by moving back and by stretching his hands up. The ball bursts through and goes into the fence. |
| 45.2 : L Malinga to N Pooran, A yorker outside off, Pooran jams it out to point. |
| 45.3 : L Malinga to N Pooran, Another yorker on middle, this jammed out. |
| 45.4 : L Malinga to N Pooran, Another very full ball outside off, Pooran looks to drive it through the off side but it goes off the inner half through mid-wicket. They take a run. Cottrell has two balls to play out. Not going to be easy for him. Malinga will be going for yorkers only, I believe. |
| 45.5 : L Malinga to S Cottrell, Inside edge! Close, very close. Like I wrote, Malinga went for the yorker. Cottrell looks to jam it out but the ball goes off the inner half down to fine leg for one. |
| 45.6 : L Malinga to N Pooran, That has slipped! A high full toss outside off, Pooran goes after it but misses. The keeper fails to collect it cleanly but the batters don't run. Wide. |
| L Malinga to N Pooran, A dot to end! Which means Cottrell will be on strike in the next over. This is a full toss outside off, Pooran hits it to covers. Just the 7 from the over but that is fine considering it was Malinga's over. 40 needed in the last 4. |
| 46.1 : I Udana to S Cottrell, Does get off strike! This is on a length and around off, Sheldon walks down the track and looks to defend but the ball straightens, it goes off the outside edge down to third man for one. |
| 46.2 : I Udana to N Pooran, FOUR! That is in the gap! The slower one and shorter in length. Pooran is ready for it. He waits for it and then pulls it through mid-wicket, away from the fielder in the deep and a boundary. |
| 46.3 : I Udana to N Pooran, Takes the single! So he is backing Cottrell. This is fuller and on middle, Pooran swings but it goes off the inner half through square leg for one. |
| 46.4 : I Udana to S Cottrell, A dot! Short and outside off, Cottrell lets it be. |
| 46.5 : I Udana to S Cottrell, Two taken! Sloppiness from Sri Lanka. This is short and on the body, Cottrell hops and defends it on the off side. They go for the run. The fielder from covers gets to the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end. He misses, the fielder backing up fumbles and the batters take another run. |
| 46.6 : I Udana to S Cottrell, WIDE! Pressure getting to the bowler here. This is down the leg side, Cottrell looks to flick but misses. |
| I Udana to S Cottrell, A dot to end! Shorter again on middle, Cottrell defends it on the leg side. 31 needed in 18 balls. |
| Look who has the ball in his hand! The experienced head of Angelo Mathews has been given the ball by Dimuth Karunaratne. This is his first over of this World Cup. Watch out for his clever change in pace. |
| 47.1 : A Mathews to N Pooran, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! What a masterstroke this is! Angelo Mathews who is bowling his first ball of the World Cup, forget the World Cup, his first ball after I don't remember when, gets the batsman who had all the West Indies hopes pinned on. Mathews bowls it wide outside off, Pooran goes after it, the ball goes off the outside edge and carries to Perera who makes no mistake. Mathews is pumped up and why not? He has probably won Sri Lanka the game. Pooran walks back d |
| 47.2 : A Mathews to O Thomas, Swing and a miss! Full and outside off, Thomas looks to go over mid on but misses. |
| 47.3 : A Mathews to O Thomas, Way too wide outside off, Thomas swings but misses again. |
| 47.4 : A Mathews to O Thomas, Fuller and on off, this is hit towards cover. The batsmen take off. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. |
| 47.5 : A Mathews to S Cottrell, DROPPED! This though was a touch chance! Cottrell flicks this ball angled into him uppishly towards wide long on. Udana there runs to his right, dives and tries to take it but fails to do so. The batters take two. |
| 47.6 : A Mathews to S Cottrell, A dot to end a brilliant over by Mathews. This on a length and around off, it is pushed back to the bowler. 3 runs and a massive breakthrough, the seasoned campaigner has done his job efficiently. |
| 48.1 : L Malinga to O Thomas, Fuller and on off, Thomas drives it to covers. |
| 48.2 : L Malinga to O Thomas, A low full toss outside off, Malinga swings but misses. |
| A huge appeal for an LBW has been turned down. Sri Lanka have reviewed. Looks close. |
| 48.3 : L Malinga to O Thomas, OUT! It is not close, it is out! West Indies are nine down now. Malinga gets his third. This lands around middle and leg. Thomas swings but misses. It goes off the pads towards third man. The batters run one as the bowler appeals. The umpire shakes his head. Kusal Perera suggests to review it and Dimuth Karunaratne obliges. Hawk Eye shows three reds and Thomas has to take the long walk back. |
| Shannon Gabriel walks in next. Watch out for your toes. |
| 48.4 : L Malinga to S Gabriel, Almost gets the last wicket. Malinga goes full and this one tails back in from off. Gabriel looks to drive but gets an insde edge onto the pads. |
| 48.5 : L Malinga to S Gabriel, A yorker but outside leg, Thomas swings but misses. |
| 48.6 : L Malinga to S Gabriel, A single to end! Full and on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. Another brilliant night for Malinga comes to an end. His figures are 10-0-55-3. |
| 27 needed off 6 balls. Angelo Mathews to bowl it... |
| 49.1 : A Mathews to S Gabriel, Swing and a miss! Slower full ball around leg, following the batsman down, Shannon swings his bat and misses. |
| 49.2 : A Mathews to S Gabriel, Again a slower length ball outside off, Gabriel is early into the swing of his bat again and misses. |
| 49.3 : A Mathews to S Gabriel, Shortish and around leg, Shannon tries to pull but gets an inside edge down to fine leg for a run. |
| 49.4 : A Mathews to S Cottrell, Angles in a full ball on middle, Cottrell whips it down to wide long on for a single. |
| 49.5 : A Mathews to S Gabriel, Goes hard at a fullish ball in the line of the stumps and gets it away towards mid on. They cross for a quick single. |
| 49.6 : A Mathews to S Cottrell, SRI LANKA WIN BY 23 RUNS! Dot ball to end things. Back of a length ball on off, Cottrell punches it from the crease but finds extra cover. The fielder stops it at the edge of the circle and the batsmen decide not to cross. That will be it. A hard-fought victory for Sri Lanka. |
| A close finish in the end. The run chase looked dead and buried in the 35th over, when Carlos Brathwaite got out but Nicholas Pooran almost single-handedly took his side home. Have to feel for the youngster but had he received some more support from the other end, the West Indies might have ended on the right side. |
| For a match which ran close, Sri Lanka always looked comfortable while defending. The top four batsmen did not contribute much for the Windies and neither scored at the rate they were expected to. At 84/4, it looked like we were in for a quick finish but Nicholas Pooran stepped up. |
| Pooran was involved in three successive 50-run stands, first with Holder, then Brathwaite and finally Allen. Comically, all the partnerships ended in a run out. Of all the three stands, it was the Pooran-Allen stand which injected some momentum into the chase. The 83-run stand came in just 58 balls and at that time, it seemed like West Indies had a chance. But his run out once again changed the tempo. |
| Nicholas Pooran then took the mantle upon himself and with 31 needed from the last 3 overs, Karunartane had to decide whom should he turn to, to bowl 2 remaining overs of the fifth bowler. He went with his most experienced player - Angelo Mathews. The bloke, who had not bowled since December 2017, struck gold on his very first ball, getting Pooran dismissed and that nipped the game in the bud. Malinga was the chief destroyer, with 3 wickets while the others, though not wicket-taking, were decent |
| Earlier in the day, a masterful century from Avishka Fernando took Sri Lanka to 338, with decent knocks from Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne. This win takes the Lankans above Bangladesh to 6th in the points table, with 8 points. However, they cannot qualify even if they beat India on Saturday. Please stay tuned for the presentation. |
| AVISHKA FERNANDO HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. He has a special translator in Kumar Sangakkara. Avishka says that when he went in, he was happy that he did what was required. Is delighted with the way they bowled and fielded and his knock has come in a winning cause. He is very happy to get the opportunities and wants to focus on developing his game. |
| West Indian skipper, Jason Holder, admits that the West Indies were slow off the blocks with both, bat and ball. Rues the fielding efforts throughout the tournament, letting key moments slip. Feels that 338 was about par on a wicket which was slow at times. Reckons that Pooran showed that if someone spent some time at the wicket, they could bat deep. On the Caribbeans doing well at the death with the ball, Holder praises his bowlers for coming back strongly. Tells that the team was backing itsel |
| Victorious Sri Lankan captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, says that these kinds of wins build a huge amount of confidence. Admits that in the earlier games, they put pressure on themselves and hence committed mistakes. In this one, he agrees that they played freely due to lack of pressure. Praises Avishka Fernando and wants his side to learn from him. Admits that the SA game was a must-win one but wants his side to play freely in the next game. On the bowling, Karunaratne says that the Lankans concentr |
| So! A dead rubber ends in an interesting fashion. Neither side can qualify but at least both gave it their all. Tuesday, July 2, 2019 sees Bangladesh take on India at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Join us at 10.30 am local (0930 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE! |
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