Theekshana, Nissanka star as Sri Lanka Hammer West Indies, finish Super Six undefeated

Spinner Maheesh Theekshana’s four-wicket haul and Pathum Nissanka’s third ODI century led Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in a Super Six leg match of Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 at Harare Sports Club, here on Friday.

Harare, July 7: Spinner Maheesh Theekshana’s four-wicket haul and Pathum Nissanka’s third ODI century led Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in a Super Six leg match of Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 at Harare Sports Club, here on Friday.

Lead-off hitters Pathum Nissanka (104) and Dimuth Karunaratne (83) did most of the chasing damage on 243 after Keacy Carty (87) dragged Windies to a respectable target.

Because of the victory, Sri Lanka remains undefeated in the qualifications and will face the Netherlands as a favorite in the final, which will be played on Sunday. Both Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have already claimed their top prize, a place in India in October for the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, but neither wants to end their Zimbabwean sojourn in defeat.

Chasing a target of 244, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start as Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne put together an impressive opening 190 points that took the game away from the West Indies.

Kusal Mendis (34) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (17) did the rest to easily reach their target of 244, for which Windies owed Keacy Carty (87) after Maheesh Theekshana (4/34) broke much of their top spot.

Batting first, the West Indies had started strongly, racing to 31 from their first four overs before Theekshana conceded just two from his first over and Brandon King (10) cleared in his second.

The spinner struck again in his third, Shamarh Brooks (2) notched before captain Shai Hope (2) became his third victim from his fourth over, previously pinned leg.

Opener Johnson Charles (39) was next back to the loft an over later, trapped one leg earlier by Matheesha Pathirana to let Windies slog at 62 for four. But Carty and Nicholas Pooran (14) led the battle, as the pair stopped the flurry of wickets until Dushan Hemantha saw Pooran drag the West Indies further into the mire with 81 for five.

Carty, having survived a drop catch on nine, kept the scoreboard ticking and dragged his side to 123 for seven by the time Sahan Arachchige bowled Kyle Mayers (18) and Hemantha trapped earlier leg Roston Chase (1).

Late contributions from Romario Shepherd (26) and Kevin Sinclair (25) then pulled Windies to 250 before Carty fell 12 balls from the end to let his side 243 all out.

In reply, Sri Lanka quickly started their chase, bringing in 50 within nine overs before Nissanka reached his 10th ODI half-century in as many balls in the 16th over.

Opening partner Karunaratne soon followed, raising his 50 with four as Sri Lanka galloped to their total. Windies vigorously tried to break the partnership, rotating through six bowlers in search of a through, but the pair proved impenetrable as they reached the 150 mark in the 28th over.

Nissanka then started his century with just under 20 overs remaining before finally looking for the center of the wicket at Kevin Sinclair’s bowling. But the fall of the first wicket couldn’t stop the stream of runs, as Mendis picked up the scoring baton and brought the 200 forward with a four before Karunaratne got stuck a leg in front by Akeal Hosein.

It left Mendis and Samarawickrama to give chase, which was done in style with 34 balls left to send Sri Lanka to Sunday’s final with their unbeaten record intact.

Short Scores: West Indies 243 all out in 48.1 overs (Keacy Carty 87, Johnson Charles 39; Maheesh Theekshana 4/34) lost to Sri Lanka 244/2 in 44.2 overs (Pathum Nissanka 104, Dimuth Karunaratne 83 ; Kevin Sinclair 1/52) with 8 wickets.