Maroon men win first ODI

(ESPNCRICINFO) – A brilliant century from Shai Hope – his tenth in ODI cricket – led West Indies to a crushing eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Antigua. Set 233 to win, West Indies knocked off the runs with three overs to spare, with the sort of ruthless efficiency it is generally so difficult to execute against Sri Lanka, particularly on slower tracks that might have something in them for spinners. A 143-run opening stand between Hope and Evin Lewis, who scored an uncharacteristic, yet impressive, 90-ball 65, effectively froze Sri Lanka out of the game before their spin bowlers had a chance to get stuck into it.
A clinical unbeaten 37 from Darren Bravo guaranteed Dimuth Karunaratne’s men would not be permitted a sniff after that stand was broken, the total Sri Lanka had put up after winning the toss proved to be well below par.

While Sri Lanka’s innings had also begun with a glistening century partnership, West Indies had the advantage of knowing exactly what was required, and were laser-focussed on achieving it with the minimum fuss possible. There was limited running between the wickets early on but Hope and Lewis continued to find a boundary an over or so, both particularly severe on any line they could work through the covers. They brought up fifty inside nine overs, with Sri Lanka introducing spin right after, but at that point, the openers began to milk the singles, the left-right combination never quite letting the Sri Lankans settle into a rhythm.
Perhaps it was the pitch – which offered limited purchase for the slower bowlers – or maybe Sri Lanka had an off-day, but rarely have that side’s spinners looked as toothless as they did today.

There was inevitability to the hundred-partnership, and the ease with which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, and how West Indies shrugged off the wicket of Lewis, will have surprised even the most partisan West Indies supporters. There was even time for a bit of flair as Hope stormed to 99 with a six over long-on, before a glorious drive brought up three figures. If anything, it was the pace of Dushmantha Chameera that appeared to trouble West Indies most, and the fast bowler, who has often been troubled by back injuries, was responsible for both wickets that fell. Lewis was undone by a perfect yorker that he failed to get his bat down for, before a peach of a slower delivery whooshed past Hope’s bat and clattered into his off stump just after he had brought up a hundred.
They were just consolation strikes for today, but if Chameera can remain injury-free, his importance to his side, both for this series and in the long-term, could be exciting.

In the morning, Sri Lanka played out a topsy-turvy innings that began with a sparkling 105-run opening partnership, but West Indies continued to strike throughout the 50 overs to repeatedly peg the visitors back, bowling them out for 232 inside 49 overs. Half-centuries from Danushka Gunathilaka and Karunaratne at close to a run-a-ball saw Sri Lanka bring up the three-figure mark inside 19 overs, before a spate of wickets through the middle order saw much of that hard work undone.
It included a deeply controversial incident where Gunathilaka was given out for allegedly obstructing the field after West Indian captain Kieron Pollard appealed, and the couple of run-outs that followed put West Indies on top.

There was plenty to like about the Sri Lankan innings once they won the toss and batted first, but the only thing likely to be remarked upon at any length is the moment of Gunathilaka’s dismissal that changed the tide of the game. Pollard, who was hugely influential through the innings, had just dismissed Karunaratne with his second ball, before he served Gunathilaka a short delivery in his next over. Pathum Nissanka, on debut, set off for a single his partner wasn’t remotely interested in, and Pollard, sensing a run-out opportunity, raced to get hold of the ball, nestled beside Gunathilaka’s feet.