WI vs SL: Five most memorable ODI encounters between Sri Lanka and West Indies

West Indies recently won the 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Both teams will now play a 3-match ODI series starting 10th March. There have been many close and memorable ODI encounters played between these two sides over the years. Among them, the most thrilling ones have come mainly in the last 12-13 years. Overall, both sides have faced each other 60 times in ODIs, in which 28 matches have been won by West Indies while Sri Lanka have won 29. In this article, we are going to list out the 5 most memorable ODIs played between the two nations.

5) 5th Match, Singer Champions Trophy, 1995

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies took part in the 3-Team ODI tournament named Singer Champions Trophy played in UAE in 1995. In the 5th match of this series, West Indies posted a big total of 333/7 in 50 overs with the help of a superb century from Brian Lara. The prolific batsman scored 169 runs off 129 balls including 15 fours and 4 sixes.

Chasing this total, Sri Lanka had lost their 6 wickets for 171 runs after which their hopes for a win were very bleak. However, Hashan Tillakaratne smashed a brilliant ton while batting at number 7 and added 86 runs for the seventh wicket with Chandika Hathurusingha. In the end, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 329 runs in 49.3 overs losing the match by just 4 runs.

4) 3rd ODI, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2020

West Indies played a 3-match ODI series on its tour to Sri Lanka in 2020. In the third match, Sri Lanka got all out for 307 runs in the first innings. Alzarri Joseph picked 4 wickets for the visitors. Chasing this challenging target, West Indies made a strong start with their openers adding 111 runs for the first wicket.

The visiting team had scored 240 runs for 3 wickets in 43.3 overs and needed 68 runs off 39 balls to win. In the last over, West Indies required 13 runs for victory with Fabien Allen batting on 33*(13). Allen hit a four on the first ball but got out to Angelo Mathews on the very next ball. West Indies scored 301/9 in 50 overs and lost the match by 6 runs in the end.

3) 5th Match, Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, 2016 

Sri Lanka and West Indies along with the hosts Zimbabwe played a Tri-Series in 2016. In the fifth match of the series, Sri Lanka scored 330/7 with the help of 94-run knocks from Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis. Captain Jason Holder picked 3 wickets for the West Indies team.

In response to this total, opener Evin Lewis slammed 148 runs in only 122 balls. Lewis hit 15 fours and 4 sixes in his innings to help the team in the chase. West Indies needed 10 runs to win in the last over of the match, and only 3 runs off the last 3 balls. However, Nuwan Pradeep didn’t give a run on the fourth ball and dismissed Sulieman Benn on the fifth ball. On the last ball, Holder could manage only 1 run and the Sri Lankan team won the thriller by 1 run.

2) 1st ODI, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2020

The first match of the 2020 tour of West Indies to Sri Lanka was a close encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. West Indies had posted a score of 289/7 in 50 overs while batting first which included a superb ton from opener Shai Hope. In the second innings, Sri Lanka looked in trouble as they lost 6 wickets for 215 runs.

Sri Lanka needed 28 runs in the last 27 balls with only 2 wickets remaining. From here, Wanindu Hasaranga played a match-winning knock of 42 runs off 39 balls to take the home side to a 1 wicket win in 49.1 overs. This was the highest successful chase on the SSC Colombo ground.

1) 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 2008

The Port of Spain ODI played between Sri Lanka and West Indies is one of the most memorable encounters in ODI history. In the last 2 balls of this match, West Indies required 10 runs to win with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on strike. Chaminda Vaas was bowling the last over for the visiting team. Chanderpaul hit a four on the fifth delivery of the last over to take the winning equation to 6 runs off 1 ball.

And on the final delivery, Chanderpaul clubbed the ball over the ropes for a six taking the team to a thrilling win. The hosts chased down the 236 runs target set by Sri Lanka in a dramatic manner. Chaminda Vaas had conceded only 17 runs off his first 9 overs but gave away 13 runs in the last over. In the bowling department for the hosts, Dwayne Bravo took 4 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs.