Twitter Reactions: Angelo Mathews’ calm head helps Sri Lanka whitewash West Indies
With 13 runs needed in the last over, Mathews gave away only six runs.
Sri Lanka had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead against the West Indies with victories in Colombo and Hambantota. The third ODI in Pallekele was a mere dead rubber, but it wasn’t short of entertainment by any means. The game went right down to the wire and eventually the hosts won by six runs. With the victory, Dimuth Karunaratne and Co also managed to finish the series 3-0.
Lanka put up a formidable score
After electing to bat first, Sri Lanka had Kusal Mendis, who scored 55 off 48, as their top scorer. Yet the home team managed to amass 307 in their 50 overs. It was indeed a collective team effort from their batters that resulted in the massive score. Avishka Fernando scored 29 even as skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera got the innings going with a couple of handy 44s in the middle overs.
In the second half, Dhananjaya de Silva’s 47-ball 51 laid the platform for a blistering finish. In the end, it was Thisara Perera, who churned out 38 off 31 and took Lanka over the 300-run mark. Even Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with 16 at a strike-rate of 177.77. For the Caribbean team, Alzarri Joseph carried on with his good form, picking four wickets. Jason Holder picked a couple of wickets.
Sri Lanka romp home
The visitors got off to a great start in their run-chase. Shai Hope (72) and Sunil Ambris (60) put on a vital stand of 111 runs at a run-a-ball to keep the West Indies in contention for a victory. The scored 64 in the powerplay and made sure to carry on from there. Wanindu Hasaranga gave Lanka the breather, getting rid of Ambris. Isuru Udana got rid of Hope to stage a comeback for the home team.
From there, Nicholas Pooran took the chase forward with a 61-ball 50 before Angelo Mathews accounted for his wicket. Meanwhile, skipper Kieron Pollard (49) held his ground, but to his dismay Udana induced a false stroke to send him packing. With 13 runs needed off the last over, Mathews gave away only six runs despite going for a four in the very first ball by Fabian Allen, who got 37.
Here’s how Twitterati reacted to victory: –
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