With an eye on the series victory, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. Home team West Indies won the first ODI and a win in this second match in this game would give them the series whereas Sri Lanka needed to win this second ODI to stay alive in the series.
After being sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka lost 3 early wickets inside the first powerplay. They looked to be in some trouble with scorecard reading 50/3 after 8.4 overs. However, opener Danushka Gunathilaka (96 off 96) and wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal (71 off 98) then stepped up with a 100-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Wanindu Hasaranga too contributed with the bat lower down the order with a 31-ball 47 to help Sri Lanka get to 273/8 in 50 overs. Jason Mohammed was the pick of Windies bowlers with 3 wickets from his 10 overs.
Chasing a good target, West Indies openers for the second time in this series put on a show with the bat as they added 192 runs for the first wicket. In the process, Evin Lewis (103 off 121) scored his fourth ODI century while Shai Hope was dismissed on 84. Sri Lanka were in the game for most part of the chase but West Indies hold their nerve to take a 5-wicket victory in this last-over finish.
Evin Lewis has been adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-winning century at the top. With this victory, West Indies have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3-match series. The third and final ODI of the series is scheduled to be played at the same venue -Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua- on Sunday (Mar 14).
Brief Scores: West Indies – 274/5 in 49.4 overs (Evin Lewis – 103, Shai Hope – 84, Thisara Perera – 2/45, Nuwan Pradeep – 2/66) defeated Sri Lanka – 273/8 in 50 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka – 96, Dinesh Chandimal – 71, Jason Mohammed – 3/47, Alzarri Joseph – 2/42) by a margin of 5 wickets
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