By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka swept to a 5-wicket triumph yesterday in a DLS 37 Over rain hit 232 canter opening ODI mounted on contrasting brilliant half centuries by upfront Nishan Madushka, a debut half century of 69 off 54 balls, and skipper Charith Asalanka a cameo 77 off 71 Player of the Match heightened stirring face off the rains robbed an ominous Sherfane Rutherford-Roston Chase final West Indian fifth-wicket charge in the at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
If the 25-year old Madushka surged from a recent lean form axing from the test team to a glowing comeback dream ODI half century having made the final eleven only by an ironic injury sidelining of his test replacement, the rollicking Pathum Nissanka, in the perfection of a sheet anchor cornerstone role as Sri Lanka lost 3 wickets for 45 after 6.3 overs, skipper Charith Asalanka rode fire with fire in the aplomb of a fearless 71-ball lacing powered by 8 boundaries and 3 over the top in a face-lifting all-left handed 137-run fifth-wicket bonding consuming 17.3 overs.
Asalanka’s innings was leadership insulating timely of putting to play the inherent pinch hitting chagrin by which the 27-year old characteristically aggressive batter has won recognition.
Madushka’s game changing workmanlike fronting came in a progressive opening up decorated by 7 boundaries and a six having watched the caving in of opening partner Avushka Fernando fall for 5 caught by Roston Chase off Alzari Joseph and Kusal Mendis for 13 edging Joseph to Shai Hope followed by Sadeera Samarawickrama undone by Motie hitting his off stump after a spurt if three boundaries from a form sidelining comeback.
The ideal final thrust home 45 following the exit of Madushka at 182 and Asalanka 187 into the first ball of the 26th over in quick succession, was in the safe hands of the exhuberant Mr Reliable Kamindu Mendis 30:off 21 in the twinkle of one to the stands and three to the ropes manning the No 7 with Janith Liyanage, one slot up, on a run a ball 18 thudding a six and boundary apiece.
The opener clanged a similarity of bad starts with the West Indies decision batting first influenced in the weariness of coming up a three-pronged spin heavy Lankan attack, hit a low key 3 for 54 by the 13th over following a Hasaranga double strike clean bowling the dangerous Brendon King for 19 and next having Alick Athanaze stumped by Kusal Mendis for 10, and Shai Hope leg before to Vandersay for 5 against a threatening Lankan spin dragnet. But Rutherford, the side’s match winner of the first T20, joined a stout Keany Carly who breezed to 37 off 18 with a six and boundary in taking West Indies past 100 when Lankan Skipper Charith Asalanka struck having him caught by Wellalage. At 106 for 4 came the Rutherford-Chase unfinished 79 fifth,-wicket revival with Rutherford’s 74 off 82 in the blaze of 3 over the top and 5 boundaries and Chase’s 33 off 38 inclusive of 3 boundaries sword edging the West Indies to a challenging score when the rains changed that scenario.
Sri Lanka 234 for 5 (Asalanka 77, Madushka 69, Motie 3-47) beat West Indies 185 for 4 (Rutherford 74, Carty 37, Chase 33, Hasaranga 2-18) by five wickets
