Sri Lanka win by 23 runs against West Indies

Despite a heroic 118 by Nicholas Pooran, West Indies fell short by 23 runs as Sri Lanka get their third win in the tournament.

Chasing 339 to win, West Indies lost Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope to Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga's fierce spell with the new ball.

Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer added 49 but wickets fell at regular intervals to leave the Windies on the brink of another defeat at 145-5.

After failing to build on solid starts for the majority of the tournament, Pooran went on to make his maiden ODI hundred.

The 23-year-old left-hander combined with tailender Fabian Allen in an 83-run stand before Allen was run out for 51.

Pooran continued to find boundaries to set up a tense finale before he was caught behind off experienced all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who was bowling in an ODI for the first time since December 2017.

Malinga returned to trap Oshane Thomas lbw for his third wicket as West Indies finished on 315-9.

Earlier, West Indies struggled to make an impact with the new ball after winning the toss and the Sri Lankan top order batted well to post a mammoth 338-6.

Avishka Fernando smashed his first ODI century (104) and opener Kusal Perera hit eight boundaries in his 51-ball 64 as Sri Lanka finished with their highest total of the tournament.

Both Sri Lanka and West Indies were out of contention for semi-final spots.

Although Sri Lanka could beat India in their final group match to potentially join England on 10 points, they would miss out on qualification having won four games to England's five. (Reuters)

West Indies got off to a poor start in their chase of a mammoth 338 for six set by Sri Lanka at Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street today.

West Indies lost Sunil Ambris (5 off 6 balls) and Shai Hope (5 off 11 balls) -- two of their top order batsmen -- early and were reeling at two for 22 in five overs. After that Shimron Hetmyer and Chris Gayle strung together a 49-run third-wicket stand to somewhat steady the ship. But both Gayle and Hetmyer departed soon and Windies now see them struggling at 137 for four at the end of 27 overs.

Fernando ton sees Sri Lanka post 338 for 6

Avishka Fernando struck his maiden ODI ton before Lahiru Thirimanne's late blows saw Sri Lanka post a challenging 338 for six against West Indies at Chester-le-Street today.

Sri Lanka got off to a brilliant start as Kusal Perera and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne combined for a solid 93-run opening stand before the former was dismissed on 32 in the 16th over. After that although Perera was run out in the 19th over after scoring 64 off 51, it was a brilliant 103-ball 104 from Avishka Fernando in the middle complemented by a late unbeaten 33-ball 45-run cameo from Lahiru Thirimanne helped the Islanders post a mammoth total.    

Fernando fifty sees SL build towards strong total

Avishka Fernando struck 50 off 57 deliveries after the loss of Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka look to build on towards a big total after a strong start.

Openers Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne gave Sri Lanka a strong start against the Windies in the World Cup match at Chester-le-Street before both fell in quick succession. Perera fell after running himself out following a brilliant 51-ball 64.

Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis then kept the momentum going with a 85-run partnership before Fabien Allen struck in the 32nd over to remove Mendis for 39. Angelo Mathews has come to the crease to join Fernando, who is batting on 51. Sri Lanka are 196 for 3 after 33 overs.

Sri Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera completed a half century stand.

The batsmen have played comfortably taking singles and scoring boundaries at ease while the West Indies bowlers look for a way to break this partnership.

 

West Indies won the toss and chose to field first against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street.

"Pretty good wicket," Holder said. "Fresh wicket. We have to tighten up on. Have our pride to play for. Still aiming the perfect game. Told the batters to give yourself a fair chance to succeed. One change: Roach is unwell, Gabriel in."

"Would've liked to bowl too," said Karunaratne. "We couldn't pass 250 often and no hundreds, those are the keys for our middle- and top-order. After the World Cup, we have to sit down and discuss what the future plans are. For now, we are focusing on World Cup. Three changes."

Sri Lanka and West Indies both are virtually out of the race for the top four spot but none of them look to go easy on each other. Both the sides look forward to end the campaign in high even after such a disastrous World Cup.

Sri Lanka won two matches out of the seven, against Afghanistan and England whereas West Indies only won one match in the World Cup, against Pakistan.

Playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Perera (WK), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha, Lasith Malinga

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (WK), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (C), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel

More to follow...