The West Indies men’s cricket team returns to the Caribbean with a one-day international (ODI) victory against a formidable Sri Lankan team, achieved on October 26.
Though they did not ultimately secure the three-match ODI series, their eight-wicket win ensured that the team avoided a whitewash in Pakelle.
The Windies won the toss and chose to bowl first. Rain ultimately played a significant role in the fixture, as play was halted in the 17th over due to showers.
Upon resumption, the hosts were given an additional 5.4 overs to finish their innings. Their total of 156-4 after 23 overs was adjusted to a competitive 195 by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method, setting a challenging target for the Men in Maroon. Standout bowlers included Roston Chase (1-20) and Sherfane Rutherford (1-27).
The West Indies’ response was guided by a magnificent batting effort from Evin Lewis. Marking his return to ODI cricket for the first time since 2021, Lewis scored a superb century, finishing unbeaten on 102.
This tally was complemented by a stellar 50 from Rutherford, who recorded his third consecutive half-century in the series against a testing Sri Lankan bowling lineup.
In a post-match interview, Captain Shai Hope praised Man of the Match Lewis for his commendable return to the 50-over format:
“He’s an amazing player. It’s great to see him back. He picked up where he left off. I am happy he scored some runs and I hope he can take that form into the next series. Lewis is a great striker of the ball, and it was great to see him. We have been playing good cricket; we need to be more consistent,” Hope said.
Reflecting on the series, Hope acknowledged that the win in the final match was a positive takeaway from what had been a largely disappointing series:
“Like I said at the toss, we had something to play for today. We didn’t have the best game in the field, but I was very happy with the way that we batted. I think most teams don’t come to Sri Lanka and beat them at home, so we have to take positives,” he noted.
The Men in Maroon will hope this positive result provides momentum as they complete their preparations to face England at home this week.