ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – West Indies A bounced back to square the one-day series against Sri Lanka A, posting a convincing 90-run victory at the Grenada National Stadium yesterday.
Following a four-wicket win by the visitors in the first game of the three-match series on Sunday, the West Indies pace and spin attack combined to restrict the Sri Lankans to 150, chasing a target of 241 off 50 overs.
Off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine grabbed three for 25 from his 10 overs while Nikita Miller, Sheldon Cottrell and Jason Holder each picked up two wickets, as the Sri Lankans struggled against good bowling and fielding.
After West Indies posted a fighting 240, with a responsible 64 from opener Nkrumah Bonner and 40 from Lendl Simmons, Sri Lankan openers of captain Niroshan Dickwella (41) and Dimuth Karunaratne (51) created some worries for West Indies in the early overs as they put on 94 for the first wicket.
However, once Karunaratne was caught off Miller, off the third ball of the 21st over, and number three batsman Angelo Perera was dismissed by Deonarine without scoring in the next over, West Indies tore the heart out of the Sri Lankan batting and controlled the match thereafter.
Captain Dickwella was third out, with the score on 99 when he was bowled by Permaul, and the innings collapsed as West Indies took wickets steadily.
Paceman Cotterel sealed the victory for the home team, bowling Saranga Lakmal with the first ball of the 43rd over, as the last six Sri Lankan wickets crumbled for 50 runs.
Earlier West Indies won the toss and opted to bat and Simmons and Bonner posted 89 off 22 overs for the first wicket.
Once the openers were separated, the middle-order rallied against the Sri Lankan spinners, after being 150 for three off 35 overs, with good knocks of 34 from Deonarine, 30 from Andre Fletcher and 26 from wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.
Deonarine then returned to complete a good all-round performance with three for 25.
The third and final match in the three-match series is scheduled for the same venue tomorrow.
