ST JOHN’S, Antigua,  (CMC) – Ahan Wickramasinghe struck an impressive century and opener Nipun Dhananjaya scored a half century as Sri Lanka Emerging Players strolled to an easy five-wicket victory over the West Indies Academy in the opening 50-over match at North Sound on Saturday.

Wickramasinghe made 103, while Dhananjaya scored 88, as the visitors comfortably overhauled WI Academy’s total of 237 in 46.2 overs, finishing on 238 for five off 39.4 overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The two batters shared a match-winning partnership of 155 after coming together following the loss of three wickets

Pacer Nathan Edward had earlier claimed the wickets of Shevon Daniel and Sohan de Livera, while McKenny Clarke dismissed Sahan Kasala for 19, to leave Sri Lanka 71 for three in the 14th over.

But Wickramasinghe and Dhananjaya turned the match in their side’s favour, scoring at over six runs an over to wrestle the initiative away from the WI Academy.

By the time leg spinner Micha McKenzie finally broke the partnership to dismiss Dhananjaya after he had faced 125 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes, Sri Lanka required just 12 more runs for victory.

Following his dismissal, Wickramasinghe brought up his century by hitting Joshua Bishop for two consecutive boundaries and looked set to carry his side over the finish line.

But he was needlessly run out by Edward with two runs needed, to end a wonderful counter-attacking innings in which he faced 79 balls and hit 10 fours and two sixes.

Edward was the Academy’s best bowler with 2-44.

Earlier, Ackeem Auguste, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett and Rivaldo Clarke all smashed half centuries for the WI Academy.

Auguste top-scored with 66, Bowen-Tuckett made 55 and Clarke 51, but apart from a partnership of 88 between Auguste and Bowen-Tuckett, the home side lost wickets at regular intervals.

From a relatively stable position of 220 for six in the 44th over, WI Academy lost their last four wickets for 17 runs in the space of three overs.

Traveen Matthew (3-40) and Garuka Sanketh (3-45), led the way with the ball for Sri Lanka.

Ahan Wickramasinghe scored 103 for Sri Lanka Emerging Players against West Indies Academy in the first 50-over match.