Windies concede series with eight-wicket loss

November 05, 2015 in Sports

WestIndies-1West Indies’ disappointing tour of Sri Lanka continued here Wednesday, when they plunged to an eight-wicket loss in the second One-Day International to tamely concede the three-match series.

In another rain-affected encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium which was reduced to 38 overs per side, West Indies rallied to 214 all out off their allotted overs and watched helplessly as the hosts raced to their adjusted target of 225, with nine balls remaining.

Opener Kusal Perera put the tourists to the sword before falling agonisingly for 99 while Lahiru Thirimanne saw Sri Lanka over the line with an unbeaten 81.

The pair put on 156 in a busy second wicket stand which killed off West Indies’ hopes of levelling the series, after they had claimed dangerous opener Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply for 17 with the score on 40 in the fifth over.

West Indies had been earlier bailed out by half-centuries from opener Johnson Charles and stand-in captain Marlon Samuels, after enduring another poor start.

Charles blasted 83 off 70 deliveries while Samuels controlled the innings with 63 off 61 balls, with left-hander Darren Bravo chipping in with 21.

Off-spinner Milinda Siriwardana was the best bowler with two for 27 while speedster Lasith Malinga snared two for 43.

The final one-dayer is scheduled for Saturday in Pallekele.