WI vs SL | Asalanka and bowlers put defending champions out of their misery and the T20 World Cup

It was the night of doom for the defending champions West Indies as they were knocked over by Sri Lanka, and thereby discarded from the race of their title defence. There was not one department where West Indies were better than the islanders they were up against. Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hsaranag with bat and ball respectively swindled the Windies ship in deep waters from where recovery was just impossible. 

Chasing a huge target of 190 the West Indies innings got off to the worst possible start losing both Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis in the first two overs itself. First Nicholas Pooran and then Shimron Hetmyer tried to provide some semblance to an otherwise falling apart innings, but it wasn’t enough. 

While Pooran got out for 46 off 34 balls off Dushmanatha Chameera trying to hit the pacer out of the park, Hetmyer remained unbeaten on 81 off 54 balls as other batters kept going down at the other end. All the big names of T20 cricket such as Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder and Dwayne Bravo couldn’t even get past the single-digit mark. 

The entire Sri Lankan bowling was its mark as apart from Maheesh Theekshana, every bowler was among wickets with Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne and Binura Fernando picking two each while one apiece was picked by Chameera and skipper Dasun Shanaka. 

Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, Pollard invited Sri Lanka to bat first. This decision of his was not backed by his bowlers as Sri Lankan openers posted their biggest partnership of this World Cup so far. Though Kusal Perera got out at the team score of 42, Pathum Nissanka tuned up with Charith Asalanka as the two added 91 for the second wicket. 

After the fall of Nissanka (51 off 41 balls), Asalanka added 46 off just 19 balls with skipper Shanka as they both guided the team to its highest ever total in this World Cup of 189-3. 

Sri Lanka would move back home with pride and confidence restored with tier showing at the mega event in which they remained in all games even the ones they lost closely against South Africa and England. 

On the other hand, West Indies will live another day and might turn out to be party poopers for Australia when they face the Kangaroos in their last game, which the Australian team would be looking to win to make sure that they enter the Semi-finals.