Skipper Asalanka guides Sri Lanka to series win

Charith Asalanka (C) and Janith Liyanage (R) added 55 off 65 balls for the fifth wicket (AFP) 

By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Pallekele

An unbeaten 62 by skipper Charith Asalanka paved the way for Sri Lanka to pull off a comfortable five-wicket win over West Indies in the second ODI played under floodlights at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday to take a 2-0 lead which also ensured the series win for the hosts.

Skipper Asalanka’s knock came off 61 balls, which had seven boundaries a six, and in the process he shared two fruitful partnerships – first of 52 runs for the third wicket with Nishan Madushka, who made 38, and 55 runs for the fifth-wicket with Janith Liyanage, who chipped in with 24 – which helped Sri Lanka in pursuit of 190 runs for victory race to the target in the 39th over.

The rain shortened match curtailed to 44 overs saw West Indies invited to take first lease of the wicket being made to struggle for their runs as they underwent an early setback losing their openers Alick Athanaze and Brandon King falling victims to the right-arm spin and pace pair Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando with the score on 17.

They fell into deeper trouble as Theekshana and Fernando grabbed two more wickets with the Windies being able to add only 14 runs and sliding to 31 for 4 in the ninth over.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s introduction saw them being dealt a double blow with Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd falling victim within the space of three balls while Theekshana got rid of Hayden Walsh. Hasaranga got rid of Alzarri Joseph to put West Indies in dire straits with the score on 58 for 8 in the 16th over.

Sherfane Rutherford forced to watch losing his partners at the other end joined by Gudakesh Motie and succeeded to stem the collapse as the pair batting with cautious began a recovery act by posting the sides’ 100 runs on the board which followed with the 50 runs stand for the ninth wicket.

Rutherford raced to his half ton which took him 57 balls that comprised four boundaries and three sixes. The pair further frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers and succeeded to post the West Indies 150 runs and then the 100 runs stand for the ninth wicket.

The pair having added 19 more runs saw them being separated with pacie Fernando making the breakthrough for Sri Lanka with the wicket of Rutherford who made a valuable contribution of 80 runs made in 82 balls which included seven boundaries and four sixes whilst sharing a 119 runs stand with Motie for the ninth wicket which incidentally is the highest for this wicket for West Indies.

West Indies were able to add only another 12 runs as Hasaranga finished off their innings with the wicket of Jayden Seales which was his fourth of the match while Theekshana and Fernando ended with three wickets each. But the sloppy fielding by the Sri Lanka fielders in the latter stages of the innings helped the visitors struggling on 58 for 8 to end with a respectable score of 189 with Motie making a dogged unbeaten knock of 50 with six boundaries.

The two teams will play their third ODI on October 26.