After a victorious Test series, the hosts Sri Lanka will be eyeing success in the shorter format of the game which is due to commence on Sunday.
For West Indies, it would be a strenuous tussle to revive themselves from the Test whitewash and focus on the upcoming ODIs.
Since 1975
Sri Lanka and West Indies locked horns in the international arena for the first time during the 1975 World Cup. The encounter at Manchester on the 6th of June 1975 was also Sri Lanka’s first ever ODI against a full member nation. Anura Tennekoon led the minnows while the legendary Clive Lloyd marshaled the brutal West Indian line up. Blessed by their vicious armoury of pacemen and ruthless batsmen, it was a mismatch of epic proportions. West Indies bowled out the Sri Lankans for a mere 86 runs before sealing a 9 wicket win with Bernard Julien and Keith Boyce sharing 7 scalps between them. Clive Lloyd’s men eventually went on to earn the ultimate prize.
After 10 losses, the first ODI win for Sri Lanka against West Indies came 14 years later. During the Nehru Cup at Rajkot in 1989, Sri Lanka beat the Windies by 4 wickets. Arjuna Ranatunga captained the Sri Lankans while Vivian Richards led the Caribbean outfit.
Sri Lanka vs West Indies overall ODI tally head to head –
- Played – 51
- Sri Lanka – 21
- West Indies – 27
- No Result – 3
Recap of the past Decade
During the last 15 years, Sri Lanka has lost only 6 ODIs to West Indies, winning 12 out of 20.
In 2003, the Lions traveled to the Caribbean, winning the 3-match ODI series 2-1. Both games at Bridgetown were won while the only loss came in Kingstown.
In 2008, the 3-match series in West Indies, which included two games at Port-of-Spain and one at Gros Islet, was won 2-0 by the hosts. West Indies won both ODIs at Port-of-Spain while the game at Gros Islet failed to produce a result.
The Caribbean clan visited Sri Lanka in 2011 where they suffered 2-0 loss in the ODIs. All 3 games were played at SSC with the first ODI ending without a result followed by two wins for the Sri Lankans in the second and the third ODIs.
In the Lion’s Den
Sri Lanka has hosted West Indies in ODIs since their first visit to the island in 1993. The first ODI between the two sides was played at the P.Sara Oval which ended without a result. In the second ODI which was played as a D/N game at the RPS, Sri Lanka managed to win by 3 wickets.
The Windies claimed their first ever ODI win in Sri Lanka in the following game at SSC, winning by 6 wickets.
The RPS has hosted 4 ODIs between the two teams, concluding with 2 wins for each side. At the SSC, they have played 4 games where the hosts have won 2, lost one and another ending with no result.
The P.Sara Oval has hosted a solitary ODI which couldn’t crop a result. Kandy and Dambulla has been the venues for 2 ODIs, of which both were won by Sri Lanka.
The last time Sri Lankan lost an ODI to West Indies on home soil was 10 years ago in 2005.
Sri Lanka vs West Indies ODI tally in Sri Lanka
- Played – 11
- Sri Lanka – 6
- West Indies – 3
- No result – 2
West Indies’ overall performance record on Sri Lankan soil has nettled them for a long time. In all competitions, they have played 17 ODIs, winning a mere 5 and losing 10.
The Iconic RPS
Perhaps the ‘Mecca’ of the cricket-crazy nation, the symbolic venue is nestled in Central Colombo amidst the hustle and bustle of the big city. But on match day, the boisterous reverberation by the ‘papare’ bands and the ardent fans not only eclipse the sounds of the city, but also reflects the unique identity of Sri Lankan Cricket.
Sitting at fifth in the all-time list of most ODIs played on a single ground, the RPS has so far hosted 118 games since its inauguration in 1986 as the first ever day-night venue in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s ODI record at RPS
- Played – 100
- Won – 61
- Lost – 32
- No result – 7
Sri Lanka vs West Indies ODI record at RPS
- Played – 4
- Sri Lanka – 2
- West Indies – 2
Pallekele
Surrounded by misty hills, the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium first hosted an ODI in 2011.
Sri Lanka’s ODI record at Pallekele
- Played – 14
- Won – 8
- Lost – 6
The two teams are yet to face each other in an ODI at Pallekele.
Sri Lanka vs West Indies – Team Records
Highest team totals –
- WI – 360/4 (Karachi, 1987)
- SL – 329 (Sharjah, 1986)
Highest team totals (in Sri Lanka)
- SL – 277/9 (SSC, 2011)
- WI – 251 (SSC, 2011)
Lowest team totals
- SL – 55 (Sharjah 1986)
- WI – 80 (Mumbai, 2006)
Lowest team totals (in Sri Lanka)
- WI – 191 (Dambulla, 2005)
- SL – 193 (RPS, 2005)
Sri Lanka vs West Indies – Batting Records
Top run scorers –
- WI – Brian Lara – 1122 runs (25 innings, Avg. 48.78)
- SL – Sanath Jayasuriya – 922 runs (30 innings)
Top run scorers (in Sri Lanka) –
- SL – Mahela Jayawardene – 301 runs (7 innings, Avg. 60.2)
- WI – Brian Lara – 267 runs (5 innings, Avg. 66.75)
Vivian Richard’s pulverizing 181 off 125 deliveries at Karachi in 1987 prevails as the highest individual ODI score for a West Indian against Sri Lanka. Avishka Gunawardene made the highest score for the Lions with his 132 in Nairobi in 2000.
Mahela’s unbeaten 106 in Kandy in 2001 is highest for the hosts while Adrian Barath’s 113 at SSC in 2011 is the highest for the visitors and also the only ODI century scored by a West Indian against the Lions on Lankan soil.
Sri Lanka vs West Indies – Bowling Records
Most wickets –
- SL – Muttiah Muralitharan – 34 wickets (27 innings)
- WI – Courtney Walsh – 26 wickets (22 innings)
Most wickets (in Sri Lanka) –
- SL – Sanath Jayasuriya – 11 wickets (6 innings)
- WI – Corey Collymore, Courtney Walsh – 5 wickets each (3 innings)
The best bowling figures for a Sri Lankan against West Indies was recorded by Farveez Maharoof with his 6 for 14 at Mumbai in 2006 which dismantled the Windies for 86.
Courtney Walsh’s staggering 5 for 1 (4.3-3-1-5) at Sharjah in 1986 remains not only as best ODI figures for a Windies bowler against Sri Lanka, but also stands as possibly the most riveting bowling spell in ODI history.
