Sri Lanka defeated West Indies by 23 runs. West Indies scored 315 runs on the loss of 9 wickets at Chester-le-Street on Monday. Batsman Avishka Fernando smashed his maiden ODI century to guide Sri Lanka to 338-6 in 50 overs in their World Cup match against West Indies tonight.
West Indies fast bowlers struggled with the new ball as Lankan openers Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne laid the foundations for a mammoth total.
The pair added 93 runs at a brisk pace before captain Karunaratne (32) nicked a swinging delivery from Jason Holder to wicketkeeper Shai Hope.
Perera (64) soon followed his skipper to the pavilion after bringing up his 14th 50 before Fernando anchored the innings alongside Kusal Mendis.
Fernando, playing only his ninth one-dayer at the age of 21, finished with 104 off 103 balls including nine fours and two sixes, before he holed out to Sheldon Cottrell.
His partnership with Lahiru Thirimanne (45) ensured former champions Sri Lanka breached the 300-mark for the first time in the tournament as they chase only their third victory of the tournament.
Toss
West Indies earlier chose to field first against Sri Lanka in the World Cup group game that will have no bearing on the playoffs but has plenty of pride at stake for each team.
Sri Lanka was still in semifinal contention until Sunday evening, when England's victory over previously unbeaten India ended the chances of Dimuth Karunaratne's squad making it to the last four. It was a payback of sorts from the tournament hosts, after Sri Lanka's upset win over England at Leeds had opened up the competition.
The West Indies slipped out of contention last week following a fourth consecutive defeat, but coach Floyd Reifer said the future starts with the game against Sri Lanka.
Reifer said his team had plenty to play for and would be up for the game at Durham's county ground at Chester-le-Street.
Veteran opener Chris Gayle starts the game, his 294th ODI, needing 53 runs to pass Brian Lara's mark of 10,348 as the most prolific scorer for West Indies in one-day international cricket.
Sri Lanka has won the last three meetings between the two countries at World Cups, and five of its last six ODIs against West Indies.
The forecast is for a mild, overcast day.
Teams
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
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