Skipper Asalanka, Madushka pilots Sri Lanka to take 1-0 lead

Sri Lanka – West Indies 1st ODI

Charith Asalanka and Nishan Madushka put up a solid stand

By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Pallekele

Skipper Charith Asalanka and Nishan Madushka, who had a dream debut, guided Sri Lanka to victory with a valuable 137-run stand in 109 balls for the fourth wicket, laying the foundation for the hosts' five-wicket win against West Indies in the first of three ODI encounters under the floodlights at the Pallekele International Stadium, giving Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the series.

The pair made Sri Lanka's revised target of 232 runs in 37 overs, due to rain halting the Windies' innings at 185 for 5, look easy, helping Sri Lanka chase it down in the 32nd over.

Joining forces at 45 for 3 in the seventh over, Asalanka and Madushka had little difficulty accumulating runs, bringing up their first 50-run partnership in 45 balls, with Sri Lanka's 100 coming in 85 balls soon after.

Skipper Asalanka was the first to reach his half-century, which took 44 balls and included five boundaries and two sixes. Madushka followed suit, reaching his fifty in 44 balls, with three boundaries and a six. The duo successfully posted a 100-run stand in 88 balls, pushing Sri Lanka's score past 150.

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie broke the partnership by dismissing Madushka for a quickfire 69 off 54 balls, which included 12 boundaries and a six. In his next over, Motie struck again, removing skipper Asalanka for 77 off 71 balls, which featured eight boundaries and three sixes.

Despite Motie's double success, Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage ensured Sri Lanka's victory by sharing an unbroken 47-run partnership in just 34 balls, securing the win and giving Sri Lanka a 1-0 series lead.

Earlier, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase rescued West Indies after they were struggling at 100 for 4 at the halfway mark of their innings. The pair made steady progress, putting together a valuable 85-run stand for the fifth wicket before rain interrupted play at 5:00 p.m., with West Indies at 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bat first, but the visitors struggled to deal with Sri Lanka's disciplined bowling attack. Openers Alick Athanaze and Brandon King gave them a cautious start, adding 34 runs before King fell to spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

West Indies lost two quick wickets, leaving them at 54 for 3 in the 13th over. However, a brief 46-run stand between Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford steadied the innings before Carty was dismissed for a dogged 37 off 58 balls. Rutherford and Chase then staged a recovery.

Rutherford raced to his half-century in 64 balls, hitting two boundaries and three sixes. The pair posted West Indies' 150 on the board, with their 50-run partnership coming in 51 balls, before the rain intervened. At the time of the stoppage, Rutherford was unbeaten on 74 from 82 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes, while Chase was on 33 off 38 balls, with four boundaries.

The second ODI will be played on October 23 at the same venue.