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2nd ODI: Fernando, Mendis Star as Sri Lanka Crush West Indies by 161 Runs to Seal Series
Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis' centuries guided Sri Lanka to a massive 161-run win against West Indies in the second ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.
Published: Feb 27, 2020, 12:29 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2020, 11:15 AM (IST)
Centuries from Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis and masterful spells by Wanindu Hasaranda and Lakshan Sandakan helped Sri Lanka stroll to a 161-run win over the West Indies in the second ODI on Wednesday. In the process, the hosts Sri Lanka have also taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This is also Sri Lanka’s largest win over West Indies in the format.
Chasing a mammoth target of 346 to keep the series alive, West Indies were bowled out for 184 in 39.1 overs with wrist spinners Hasaranga and Sandakan picking up three wickets each. Pacer Nuwan Pradeep also snared a couple of wickets to add to his tally.
Earlier, West Indies started brilliantly, having won the toss and choosing to bowl first. Sheldon Cottrell struck early with wickets of SL captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera off consecutive balls in the third over. However, Mendis and Fernando not only reconstructed the hosts’ innings but also put them in the driver’s seat with a mammoth 239-run stand for the third wicket.
The duo broke the earlier 226-run record of Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene that was made against India in Sharjah in 2000. Fernando and Mendis also registered the fourth-highest stand for the third wicket in the history of ODIs.
Two wickets in two balls seal a massive 161-run win for Sri Lanka! 🎉
They go 2-0 up in the series with just one left to play 🏆 #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/RhMCn6z1N1
— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2020
The West Indies had to wait till the 41st over for the next breakthrough, by which time both the batsmen had reached their centuries. The pair were looking to hit a boundary off every ball and Mendis fell in the process, edging Alzarri Joseph to wicketkeeper Shai Hope 119 (119 balls, 4×12).
Fernando (127 off 123 balls, 4×10) also fell to Joseph in his next over, but Thisara Perera’s 25-ball 36 ensured that Sri Lanka reached an imposing 345/8 in the allotted 50 overs.
The West Indies hardly ever looked capable of giving Sri Lanka a fight. Hasaranga and Sandakan took three wickets each as the visitors folded for 184 in 39.1 overs.
The final match of the series will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on March 1.
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Brief scores: Sri Lanka 345/8 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 127, Kusal Mendis 119; Sheldon Cottrell 4/67) vs West Indies 184 all out in 39.1 overs (Shai Hope 51, Nicholas Pooran 31; Wanindu Hasaranga 3/30, Lakshan Sandakan 3/57)