West Indies won ODI in Sri Lanka after 19 years with Evin Lewis's stormy century

West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the rain-affected third and final ODI in Pallekele with the help of Evin Lewis's brilliant unbeaten century based on Duckworth-Lewis rule. After 19 years, this is the first win of West Indies in Sri Lanka. The last match they won in Sri Lanka was in 2005. With this, the Caribbean team won their first ODI of 2024 and also ended their 11-match losing streak in Sri Lanka. In addition to this, Sri Lanka has won the ODI series 2-1

Sri Lanka was invited to bat after the West Indies won the toss. The rain stopped play when Sri Lanka was put into bat, and they only scored 156 for three wickets before the game was cut to 23 overs. The Caribbean team reached the 195-run mark set by the West Indies for two wickets with one over remaining. 196 runs were achieved by the West Indies for 2 wickets in 22 overs.

For Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis scored half-centuries. Pathum Nissanka made 56 runs in 62 balls with 8 fours and a six and was dismissed. Kusal Mendis completed his 15th half-century in 19 balls. He played an unbeaten knock of 56 runs in 22 balls with 9 fours and a six. Other than that, Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando scored an innings of 34 runs. He gave the team a good start, adding 81 runs in 17.1 overs for the first wicket with Pathum Nissanka.

While chasing the target, the West Indies lost the wicket of Brandon King. He was chasing a target of 36 runs in which Brandon King made only 16 runs. In this situation, Lewis - batting his first ODI since 2021 - combined with skipper Shai Hope to stitch 72 runs for the second wicket thereby saving the innings. After Hope was out, Lewis and Sherfane Rutherford took over the mantle of responsibilities and led the team to victory with one over remaining. Evin Lewis remained not out after scoring 102 runs in 61 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. He scored his fifth century of ODI career. For this brilliant innings, he has been adjudged Player of the Match. Off the record, Rutherford completed his fourth half-century in just 26 balls. Rutherford hit 4 fours and 3 attractive sixes during his unbeaten half-century innings.