Sri Lanka wins rain-struck ODI thriller by one wicket

Sri Lanka defeated West Indies by one wicket in the rain-curbed first one-day international in Colombo on Sunday with Tillakaratne Dilshan’s knock of 59 off 32 balls. The hosts won with seven balls to go to take a lead at the Premadasa stadium  in the three-match series after they were given a target of 163 in 26 overs on Duckworth-Lewis rule. While chasing the revised target of 159-8 in 26 overs set by West Indies, Sri lanka were struggling when Dilshan struck six boundaries and three sixes. The tailender Ajantha Mendis struck the winning six off Johnson Charles after the hosts sailing at 104-2, lost 7 wickets for 48 runs.

 

The day-night match started an hour and 20 minutes late due to rain and was reduced to 26 overs-a-side because of bad weather during the West Indies innings. Sri lanka were given a brilliant start with Dilshan putting on 46 for the first wicket with Kusal Perera and 43 for the second with Lahiru Thirimanne. But a thrilling Sri Lankan collapse occurred at a time the West Indies seemed to lose when spinner Sunil Narine took three wickets and Carlos Brathwaite and Jonathan Carter claimed two wickets each.

  

Earlier West Indies sank to 24-3 before the rain break and then declined 42-4 soon after resumption but Andre Russell and Darren Bravo put on 58 runs off 37 balls to carry the West Indies to 159-8. Russel scored 41 off 24 balls hitting 3 sixes and 3 fours and left-handed Bravo entertained with fifth-wicket stand to retrieve the situation while scoring 38. The West Indies got 59 runs in the final five overs where skipper Jason Holder scored 36 off 13 balls with three sixes and two boundaries. Lakmal took first three wickets and spinner Mendis claimed two. The same venue will host the second one-dayer on Wednesday. The two Twenty20 games will be played after the one-day series.