Opening batsman Kyle Hope slammed his maiden List A century to help West Indies A defeat Sri Lanka A by 109 runs in the second unofficial ODI today at Welegedara Stadium in Kurunegala.
With this win, West Indies A have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The visitors won the first game convincingly in Dambulla on Monday by 165 runs.
Left-handed opening batsman Shehan Jayasuriya fought hard for the hosts scoring his 4th List A century but it was not enough for Sri Lanka A as they were bundled out for 238 runs after the Windies posted a mammoth score of 347.
West Indies A bulldoze Sri Lanka A in 1st unofficial ODI
Earlier in the day, the West Indies A skipper Jason Mohommed won his second consecutive toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair, Hope and Chadwick Walton smothered the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground as they built a solid 111-run stand before Walton was undone by Milinda Siriwardana after making a well-constructed 52-ball 70 which included 11 fours and 2 sixes.
Right-handed Hope and Assad Fudadin kept the scoring rate up with a rapid 109-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Part-time spinner, Danushka Gunathilaka brought an end to Hope’s innings of 107. He made 10 fours and 4 sixes during his 114-ball effort.
Hard-hitting Rovman Powell smashed a quick-fire 22-ball 52 which had 2 fours and 6 giant sixes to push the Windies score near 300. Both Fudadin who scored at 81.43 to get 57 runs and Powell were dismissed by Jayasuriya with his off-spinners in consecutive deliveries.
Kyle Mayers, Jason Mohommed and Delorn Johnson made blitzkrieg cameos in the final five overs to push the Windies score to 347 for 9 from their allotted 50 overs. Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers capturing 4 for 54 while left-arm seamer Binura Fernando was very expensive for his couple of wickets.
Chasing an improbable target of 348 runs to level the series, Sri Lanka A lost Sandun Weerakkody and Danushka Gunathilaka early on to the bowling of right-arm quick, Ronsford Beaton who had the home team reeling at 10 for 2.
Jayasuriya and young Charith Asalanka built a solid stand of 88 runs for the 3rd wicket but the latter unfortunately ran him out when he was batting superbly on 44 off 59 deliveries with 4 fours and a six.
Skipper Siriwardana and debutant, Sammu Ashan fell in quick succession as the home team was restricted to 127 for 5 at the half-way mark. Jayasuriya was soon running out of partners until he added 69 for the 7th wicket with Dasun Shanaka who went onto make 32 off 34 balls.
Jayasuriya succumbed to the scoreboard pressure after making a glorious 119 off 113 deliveries and his delightful innings had 13 fours and 2 sixes. Medium pacers, Rovman Powell and Kyle Mayers shared 5 wickets to bundle out Sri Lanka A to 238 in the 43rd over.
The third and final unofficial ODI will be worked out at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
West Indies A – 347/9 in 50 overs: Kyle Hope 107, Chadwick Walton 70, Assad Fudadin 57, Rovman Powell 52, Shehan Jayasuriya 4/54, Binura Fernando 2/70.
Sri Lanka A – 238 all out in 42.1 overs: Shehan Jayasuriya 119, Charith Asalanka 44, Dasun Shanaka 32, Rovman Powell 3/45, Kyle Mayers 2/56, Ronsford Beaton 2/41.
