CWC 2019: SL vs WI Review – Pooran’s heroics in vain as Lanka edge thriller

What was supposed to be a dead-rubber turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the tournament as Sri Lanka and West Indies served up an exhibition. The contest at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street had it all – pulsating action, a range of emotions and some terrific display of skill. Two young guns of world cricket especially stood out as both Avishka Fernando and Nicholas Pooran set the field on fire. While one was an innings of eye-pleasing elegance, the other was a display of sheer brutality and stroke-making ability. In the end, Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 338/6 proved too much for the Windies to chase down. They could only post a score of 315/9 in reply, losing the game by 23 runs.

Check out the full scorecard here

Top order sets the tone

The Sri Lankan openers were not fazed by the pace of the Caribbean bowling attack. The deck at the Riverside Ground was a flat one, with the ball coming on to the bat pretty well. The aggressive Kusal Perera and the solid Dimuth Karunaratne calmly went about conducting their business, setting up a platform from which it was always likely for Sri Lanka to put up a big score on the board. Their opening stand of 93 calmed all the nerves before the pair were dismissed in quick succession. Karunaratne was dismissed for 32 by Holder before Perera was run-out for 64 after playing an entertaining knock.

A glittering glimpse of the future

There is a reason why both Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis are so highly rated in the cricketing circles back in the island. Both have a solid technique combined with some breathtaking strokeplay and could be the cornerstone for the Lankans for years to come. While Mendis again failed to convert his start, being dismissed for 39, Fernando would well and truly cash in. His knock of 104 was an absolute delight to watch with an array of shots. His partnership of 85 with Mendis was crucial, which set the launchpad for the lower middle-order to play quickfire cameos. He anchored the innings, while the likes of Mathews (26 off 20) and Thirimanne (45 off 33) ensured that Sri Lanka reached a score of 338/6 without breaking a sweat.

Windies falter at the start

To chase the massive target down, the last thing which the West Indies needed was to lose a couple of early wickets. But the experience and canny skills of Lasith Malinga proved to be too much for the inexperienced Caribbean top order to handle. The veteran pacer quickly knocked over both Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope in his opening spell, with the Windies reeling at 22-2. It was now left upon the pair of Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer to rebuild the innings. But when Gayle was dismissed by Rajitha for 38, the Windies were well and truly staring down the barrel.

Pooran mounts a sensational comeback

When Pooran walked into the bat, the intent was clear on his face. The self-belief was evident with every cracking shot which came off his bat. This was going to be his day. This was going to be his career-defining moment. He kept on attacking despite losing his partner Hetmyer for a dubious run-out. Skipper Jason Holder walked in and made a vital contribution of 26. He too then departed. So did Brathwaite for 8. But nothing deterred Pooran. He needed a single partner to make a contest out of the match. And he got one as Fabian Allen walked in to bat.

Heartbreak hotel for the Windies

Allen and Pooran launched a merciless assault on the Lankan bowlers. When the pair first got together, it seemed like a mere formality that the Lankans would cruise to victory. But the two batters launched a brilliant counter-attack, which left the Islanders stunned. Allen was the aggressor, scoring rapidly, unleashing all his fury. He was finally dismissed for 51 off only 32 deliveries, but a lot of damage was done with the partnership of 83 between the pair. The onus was now on Pooran, who soon brought up his maiden ODI century and continued to attack with the equation looking more realistic for Windies with every delivery. With the left-hander continuing to score runs at will and no solution in sight, skipper Karunaratne had to think out of the box. Who did he turn to? The wily old head of Angelo Mathews, who had not bowled a single over in the tournament. Mathews had also not bowled for two years but turned out to be the golden arm, picking Pooran off his very first delivery. With this, Pooran’s innings came to an anti-climactic end at 118 off 103 deliveries and so did the Caribbean resistance.