West Indies Academy took a 1-0 lead in the three-match unofficial ODI series when they pulled off a close two-wicket win against Sri Lanka Emerging Players in the first match played at the SSC grounds on Tuesday.
In a match reduced to 36 overs a side, Sri Lanka Emerging Players invited to bat first were bowled out for 184 with skipper Nipun Dananjaya being the principle scorer making a polished 65 off 73 balls (5 fours). Left-arm seamer Jediah Blades and leg-spinner Zishan Motara shared six wickets between them.
In West Indies Academy’s reply Damel Evelyn, the 24-year-old right-hander from Barbados played a crucial knock to see his side home. Despite the fall of wickets from the other end Evelyn kept one end going to finish on 77* off 97 balls (8 fours)
At one stage West Indies Academy were cruising to victory at 164-4 courtesy a 110-run stand between Evelyn and Kevlon Anderson (58 off 45 balls, 8 fours), when off-spinner Kavija Gamage introduced into the attack picked up 4/18 in 5 overs to cause flutters in the West Indies Academy camp as they slipped to 181-8. But West Indies had enough overs under their belt to see them home. The second match of the series takes place at the same venue today. – [ST]
Scores:
Sri Lanka Emerging Players 184 (33.4) (Sineth Jayawardena 32, Asitha Wanninayake 23, Nipun Dananjaya 65, Ranesh Silva 21, Jediah Blades 3/42, Raneico Smith 2/25, Zishan Motara 3/32)
West Indies Academy 185-8 (31) (Damel Evelyn 77*, Kevlon Anderson 58, Traveen Mathew 3/30, Kavija Gamage 4/18)