West Indies secured a consolation win in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, thanks to a powerful century by Evin Lewis and a quick-fire half-century by Sherfane Rutherford. The match, played in Pallekele, was truncated due to rain, turning it into a 23-overs-a-side contest.
Sri Lanka, batting first, posted 156/3 in their 23 overs, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis both scoring fifties. Nissanka made the most of an early dropped chance to steady the innings with Avishka Fernando. The pair took Sri Lanka to 81 for 0 in 17 overs before Fernando fell to a return catch by Roston Chase. Rain halted play for nearly five hours after that, leaving Sri Lanka with limited time to accelerate.
When play resumed, Mendis came out swinging, hitting Chase for four consecutive boundaries and accelerating to a rapid 22-ball 56. Sri Lanka added 75 runs in just 5.4 overs after the rain break to set West Indies a daunting target of 195 under the DLS method.
West Indies had a challenging task ahead but started their chase confidently. Though they lost Brandon King early, Evin Lewis and Shai Hope steadied the innings, taking West Indies to 76/1 in 10 overs. Lewis reached his fifty in 34 balls, but the asking rate remained high, and Hope’s dismissal in the 15th over left West Indies needing a significant push.
That push came when Sherfane Rutherford joined Lewis. The pair took the score to 125/2 by the 17th over, and with 70 runs required off the last six overs, they started attacking Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Rutherford smashed two sixes and a four off Maheesh Theekshana in the 18th over, and the target quickly came down.
Lewis, who was approaching his century, kept his composure and smashed a six to seal both his century and the victory for West Indies, with an over to spare. West Indies chased down the target of 195, reaching 196/2 in 22 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 156/3 in 23 overs (Pathum Nissanka 56, Kusal Mendis 56; Sherfane Rutherford 1-27)
West Indies: 196/2 in 22 overs (Evin Lewis 102*, Sherfane Rutherford 50*)
West Indies won by 8 wickets (DLS Method).