Sri Lanka vs West Indies Match Highlights & Results

So! A dead rubber ends in an interesting fashion. Neither side can qualify but at least both gave it their all. Tuesday, July 2, 2019 sees Bangladesh take on India at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Join us at 10.30 am local (0930 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Sri Lankan captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, says that these kinds of wins build a huge amount of confidence. Admits that in the earlier games, they put pressure on themselves and hence committed mistakes. In this one, he agrees that they played freely due to lack of pressure. Praises Avishka Fernando and wants his side to learn from him. Admits that the SA game was a must-win one but wants his side to play freely in the next game. On the bowling, Karunaratne says that the Lankans concentrated on keeping it tight, not conceding too many runs, which resulted in a couple of run outs. On Mathews bowling the 48th over, Dimuth says that he had to bowl 2 overs off the 5th bowler and was going to bowl one himself but says that Angelo Mathews himself came and said that he will bowl. On the question whether Angelo will bowl regularly, Karunaratne laughs it off, saying that he does not think Mathews will bowl much again.

West Indian skipper, Jason Holder, admits that the West Indies were slow off the blocks with both, bat and ball. Rues the fielding efforts throughout the tournament, letting key moments slip. Feels that 338 was about par on a wicket which was slow at times. Reckons that Pooran showed that if someone spent some time at the wicket, they could bat deep. On the Caribbeans doing well at the death with the ball, Holder praises his bowlers for coming back strongly. Tells that the team was backing itself when the Allen-Pooran stand was going on and is sad that they could not win. Agrees that this sort of play and this lot of youngsters are really promising and is happy with the attitude being shown. On their final game, Jason just wants a win through a complete performance.

AVISHKA FERNANDO HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. He has a special translator in Kumar Sangakkara. Avishka says that when he went in, he was happy that he did what was required. Is delighted with the way they bowled and fielded and his knock has come in a winning cause. He is very happy to get the opportunities and wants to focus on developing his game.

Earlier in the day, a masterful century from Avishka Fernando took Sri Lanka to 338, with decent knocks from Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne. This win takes the Lankans above Bangladesh to 6th in the points table, with 8 points. However, they cannot qualify even if they beat India on Saturday. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Nicholas Pooran then took the mantle upon himself and with 31 needed from the last 3 overs, Karunartane had to decide whom should he turn to, to bowl 2 remaining overs of the fifth bowler. He went with his most experienced player - Angelo Mathews. The bloke, who had not bowled since December 2017, struck gold on his very first ball, getting Pooran dismissed and that nipped the game in the bud. Malinga was the chief destroyer, with 3 wickets while the others, though not wicket-taking, were decent.

Pooran was involved in three successive 50-run stands, first with Holder, then Brathwaite and finally Allen. Comically, all the partnerships ended in a run out. Of all the three stands, it was the Pooran-Allen stand which injected some momentum into the chase. The 83-run stand came in just 58 balls and at that time, it seemed like West Indies had a chance. But his run out once again changed the tempo.

For a match which ran close, Sri Lanka always looked comfortable while defending. The top four batsmen did not contribute much for the Windies and neither scored at the rate they were expected to. At 84/4, it looked like we were in for a quick finish but Nicholas Pooran stepped up.

A close finish in the end. The run chase looked dead and buried in the 35th over, when Carlos Brathwaite got out but Nicholas Pooran almost single-handedly took his side home. Have to feel for the youngster but had he received some more support from the other end, the West Indies might have ended on the right side.

SRI LANKA WIN BY 23 RUNS! Dot ball to end things. Back of a length ball on off, Cottrell punches it from the crease but finds extra cover. The fielder stops it at the edge of the circle and the batsmen decide not to cross. That will be it. A hard-fought victory for Sri Lanka.

Goes hard at a fullish ball in the line of the stumps and gets it away towards mid on. They cross for a quick single.

Angles in a full ball on middle, Cottrell whips it down to wide long on for a single.

Shortish and around leg, Shannon tries to pull but gets an inside edge down to fine leg for a run.

Again a slower length ball outside off, Gabriel is early into the swing of his bat again and misses.

Swing and a miss! Slower full ball around leg, following the batsman down, Shannon swings his bat and misses.

27 needed off 6 balls. Angelo Mathews to bowl it...

A single to end! Full and on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. Another brilliant night for Malinga comes to an end. His figures are 10-0-55-3.

A yorker but outside leg, Thomas swings but misses.

Almost gets the last wicket. Malinga goes full and this one tails back in from off. Gabriel looks to drive but gets an insde edge onto the pads.

Shannon Gabriel walks in next. Watch out for your toes.

OUT! It is not close, it is out! West Indies are nine down now. Malinga gets his third. This lands around middle and leg. Thomas swings but misses. It goes off the pads towards third man. The batters run one as the bowler appeals. The umpire shakes his head. Kusal Perera suggests to review it and Dimuth Karunaratne obliges. Hawk Eye shows three reds and Thomas has to take the long walk back.

A huge appeal for an LBW has been turned down. Sri Lanka have reviewed. Looks close.

A low full toss outside off, Malinga swings but misses.

Fuller and on off, Thomas drives it to covers.

A dot to end a brilliant over by Mathews. This on a length and around off, it is pushed back to the bowler. 3 runs and a massive breakthrough, the seasoned campaigner has done his job efficiently.

DROPPED! This though was a touch chance! Cottrell flicks this ball angled into him uppishly towards wide long on. Udana there runs to his right, dives and tries to take it but fails to do so. The batters take two.

Fuller and on off, this is hit towards cover. The batsmen take off. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses.

Way too wide outside off, Thomas swings but misses again.

Swing and a miss! Full and outside off, Thomas looks to go over mid on but misses.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! What a masterstroke this is! Angelo Mathews who is bowling his first ball of this World Cup, forget the World Cup, his first ball after eternity, gets the batsman who had all the West Indies' hopes pinned on him. Mathews bowls it wide outside off, Pooran goes after it but the ball takes the outside edge and carries to Kusal Perera who makes no mistake. Mathews is pumped up and why not? He has probably won Sri Lanka the game. Pooran walks back dejected. What an innings from him but it would have been even more special had he taken his team over the line! West Indies need a miracle from here on.

Look who has the ball in his hand! The experienced head of Angelo Mathews has been given the ball by Dimuth Karunaratne. This is his first over of this World Cup. Watch out for his clever change in pace.

A dot to end! Shorter again on middle, Cottrell defends it on the leg side. 31 needed in 18 balls.

WIDE! Pressure getting to the bowler here. This is down the leg side, Cottrell looks to flick but misses.

Two taken! Sloppiness from Sri Lanka. This is short and on the body, Cottrell hops and defends it on the off side. They go for the run. The fielder from covers gets to the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end. He misses, the fielder backing up fumbles and the batters take another run.

A dot! Short and outside off, Cottrell lets it be.

Takes the single! So he is backing Cottrell. This is fuller and on middle, Pooran swings but it goes off the inner half through square leg for one.

FOUR! That is in the gap! The slower one and shorter in length. Pooran is ready for it. He waits for it and then pulls it through mid-wicket, away from the fielder in the deep and a boundary.

Does get off strike! This is on a length and around off, Sheldon walks down the track and looks to defend but the ball straightens, it goes off the outside edge down to third man for one.

A dot to end! Which means Cottrell will be on strike in the next over. This is a full toss outside off, Pooran hits it to covers. Just the 7 from the over but that is fine considering it was Malinga's over. 40 needed in the last 4.

That has slipped! A high full toss outside off, Pooran goes after it but misses. The keeper fails to collect it cleanly but the batters don't run. Wide.

Inside edge! Close, very close. Like I wrote, Malinga went for the yorker. Cottrell looks to jam it out but the ball goes off the inner half down to fine leg for one.

Another very full ball outside off, Pooran looks to drive it through the off side but it goes off the inner half through mid-wicket. They take a run. Cottrell has two balls to play out. Not going to be easy for him. Malinga will be going for yorkers only, I believe.

Another yorker on middle, this jammed out.

A yorker outside off, Pooran jams it out to point.

DROPPED AND FOUR! That has been misjudged horribly. Has Thisara Perera, the sub, dropped the game? Well, we will find out. Malinga bowls it full and on off, Pooran lofts it towards long off. He has not got enough on it. Perera though runs in then realizes it is going over him. Looks to recover by moving back and by stretching his hands up. The ball bursts through and goes into the fence. Malinga is not impressed. Karunaratne is shaking his head. Massive moment, this.

Lasith Malinga is back into the attack. He has two vital overs up his sleeves. That's the game, to be honest.

He does so! Udana attacks the stumps and Sheldon keeps it out. 47 needed in the last 5.

This is fuller and on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. Cottrell has one ball to play out.

SIX! What a sound that made off the bat! That has been hit with the wind. Short and on the body, Pooran waits for it and pulls it over the backward square leg fence for a biggie.

WIDE! Down the leg side, Pooran looks to swing but misses. Wide signaled.

A dot! Fuller and on middle, Pooran hits it back to the bowler.

100 for Pooran! Brilliant, brilliant innings! His first in ODIs and hopefully of many to come. Also, what a time to score your first ton, his team was down and out but his innings has brought them back. He needs to stay there right till the end though. This is fuller and on middle, Nicholas flicks it through mid-wicket for two.

Sheldon Cottrell walks out to the middle. He needs to hang in there with Pooran. That is his job.

OUT! Run out! Rihanna maybe in attendance but the song of Taylor Swift - 'Trouble, Trouble' is playing in my mind. Complete miscommunication here and yet another fifty stand is broken through a run out. A delivery down the leg side, Fabian flicks it towards short fine leg and Pooran wants to have a run in spite of the striker not showing much interest. Rajitha, in the meanwhile, picks up the ball and parries it to the bowler who does the rest. Not even in the frame, Fabian. He has sacrificed himself here. 57 needed off 35 balls.

A full toss on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. 11 from the over, 57 needed in 36.

Pooran moves onto 99 as he strokes this through covers for one.

A full toss outside off, this is hit through covers for one. Fifty up for Allen. A brilliant knock by him. Probably a match-winning one. The job is not done yet. This is full toss on off and is hit through covers for one.

SIX! What a hit this is from Fabien Allen! WOW! Even Rihanna in the stands is impressed. The one boundary they need in every over has come here. This is full and on middle, Allen lofts it over the bowler's head. It goes all the way.

Fuller and outside off, Pooran hits it through covers for one. Singles won't harm Sri Lanka.

Slower one and wide outside off, left alone. It has been wided.

Edge but short! Slower one outside off, Pooran looks to hit it through the off side but it goes off the outside edge and falls just short of the keeper. More importantly a dot.

A dot to end but 9 from the over. Good length and on middle, this is defended.

Shorter and outside off, Allen looks to slap it but misses.

FOUR! Pressure, this is pressure here! This is down the leg side, Allen sweeps it towards short fine leg. It bounces just in front of the fielder there who fails to field it and the ball races to the fence.

A mix-up, a collision but no harm done! Back of a length on middle, Allen defends it to the right of the wicket. Pooran wants a run but collides with the bowler. He keeps his balance and gets back in time.

FOUR! Excellently played! This is on a length and around off, Allen plays it late and he gets it past short third man for a boundary.

An excellent yorker on middle, Pooran jams it down to long off for one. He moves onto 97.

Isuru Udana is back on!

A full toss on off, Allen mistimes it down to mid off. 7 from the over, not a bad result for Sri Lanka.

FOUR! Nearly carried all the way. Fabian is playing a little gem here. Picks the slower short ball early, turns inside the crease and murders it via a pull shot over mid-wicket. It lands just before the fence and goes over. The onfield umpire confirms from upstairs before signalling a boundary.

Uppish, just over the bowler. Again a slower one, on a length around middle at 109 kph, Pooran brings down a straight bat and it comes off the inside half. It loops over the jumping bowler for one.

Play and a miss! So far so good from Rajitha. Slower one, full and on off, Pooran mistimes his drive back towards the bowler.

Shortish and on off, hammed down to long on for one.

Very full and wide outside off, Pooran drives it through cover-point for a run.

Kasun Rajitha returns into the attack. He has been quite expensive, going in at more than 7. He has two remaining now, and 14 of those two won't be too bad given the context of the match. 84 needed off 54 balls.

Sensible batting! Keeps strike now as he eases it down to long off for one. 11 from the 41st. Slowly but steadily, the pressure is building on Sri Lanka.

FOUR! Under edge but Pooran won't care! This is flatter and outside off, Pooran looks to cut but the line is a little too close. It goes off the bottom edge, between the keeper's legs and to the third man fence.

Shorter and outside off, Pooran looks to cut but finds point.

Around off again, Pooran pushes it to covers.

Flatter and on off, this is pushed to the bowler.

SIX! What a start to the over! 250 up for the Windies. They are surely still in it. This is a half-tracker. Pooran goes back and pulls it hard over the square leg fence for a biggie. Another 50-run stand, three back-to-back fifty run stands. This partnership though holds the hopes.

Powerplay 3 begins! Now, Sri Lanka can have five fielders outside the ring. Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl out.

One more single! 10 from the over. Fuller and on off, this is hit down to long off for one. 95 needed in the last 10 overs.

Once again a single which is fine for this over! Length and outside off, this is guided down to third man for one.

Another quick run! Sensible stuff! This is on off, Pooran pushes it through covers for one.

Well played! Malinga bowls the slower one on off, Allen picks it, he defends it towards cover and takes a run.

Just over! A couple! Slower one outside off, Allen looks to go over covers but mistimes it. It still clears the cover fielder and the batters take two.

FOUR! Allen is dealing in boundaries! Once again Malinga misses the yorker and pays the price. It is full and outside off, Allen hits it through mid off and it races away. Ideal start to the over.

Good fielding but three to end the over! A full toss on the pads, this is flicked through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep runs to his left, slides and pushes it back in. 9 from this over. 105 needed in 66 balls.

Shorter and outside off, Allen looks to cut but misses.

FOUR! Clobbered! A slower one outside off, Allen stays leg side of the ball and smashes it through extra cover for a boundary.

On the shorter side outside off, Pooran cuts it to point.

Fuller and on off, Pooran strokes it to mid off.

Shorter and outside off, Allen guides it down to third man and takes one.

A single to end! A low full toss on middle, this is hit towards mid on for one. 12 from the over. 114 needed in 72 balls.

FOUR! Second boundary in the over! Allen has hit both. Malinga misses his yorker and it ends up being a full ball on middle, Allen lifts it over mid-wicket and bags a boundary.

This is on the pads, Pooran looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. It rolls on the leg side and a run is taken. Leg bye taken.

A yorker outside off, Pooran fails to jam it out.

Very full on middle, Allen jams it out past the bowler. Mathews runs to his left and stops it with a dive. A single taken.

FOUR! This will help, this will really help, West Indies would want Allen to chip in here. He gets a boundary this time. This is on the pads, this is flicked through backward square leg.