West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 3rd ODI: Darren Bravo's Century Helps West Indies To Complete Whitewash

West Indies completed the whitewash after beating Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in the third or last match of the three-match ODI series last Sunday (14th March).

While West Indies captain Kieron Pollard chose to field first, Sri Lanka scored 274/6 in 50 overs. In reply, West Indies chased down the target in 48.3 overs after losing five wickets and wrapped up the series by winning it in a 3-0 margin.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 3rd ODI

2nd innings (West Indies): Darren Bravo ended his long-wait of ODI century, Shai Hope and Kieron Pollard scored crucial 50s

In the early second innings, West Indies lost their two top-order batsmen very early as opener Evin Lewis (13) and Jason Mohammed (8) lost their wickets inside the first powerplay.

But in-form Shai Hope handled the situation very well along with Darren Bravo. They set up the strong 109 runs partnership for the third wicket which helped the hosts to make a comeback in this ODI. Hope recorded his sixth consecutive ODI 50+ score after reaching the 50-run mark in 61 balls. Later, Bravo completed his half-century in 81 balls.

Thisara Perera finally brought the breakthrough for the visitors by dismissing Hope for 64 runs off 72 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). Nicholas Pooran lost his wicket quickly by scoring 15 off 8 balls (2 sixes). But Darren Bravo continued his impressive batting along with the skipper Kieron Pollard.

Bravo and Pollard set up the 80 runs partnership for the fifth wicket that helped the Caribbean team to come very close to achieve the victory. In the 45th over, Bravo ended an almost five-year-long wait (the previous ODI century scored in June 2016) to complete his fourth ODI century as he reached the triple-digit mark with a four when he faced the 130th delivery.

But soon then, Suranga Lakmal dismissed Bravo for 102 runs off 132 balls (5 fours and 4 sixes). But Pollard safely chased the target after completing his half-century in 42 balls as he ended the game with a sixer that also completed his fifty. He remained not out on 53 runs off 42 balls (4 fours and only six).

Suranga Lakmal was the only Sri Lankan bowler to claim more than one wicket in that innings as he had bowling figures of 9.3-1-56-2.

1st innings (Sri Lanka): Ashen Bandara and Wanindu Hasaranga’s late partnership helped the visitors to cross 270 runs mark

Openers Danushka Gunathilaka and captain Dimuth Karunaratne provided a positive start with the 68 runs partnership for the opening wicket. But since then, Sri Lanka lost their wickets at regular intervals as most of their batsmen failed to convert their starts to good scores.

While both the openers were dismissed in their 30s as Gunathilaka was dismissed on 36 runs and skipper Karunaratne scored 31, the other batsmen failed to reach the 25-run mark. In the 32nd over, Sri Lanka were struggling on 151/6.

Ashen Bandara and Wanindu Hasaranga handled that situation very well and controlled the innings with their strong batting performances. While Hasaranga completed his fifty in 48 balls, Bandara scored his second ODI fifty in 72 balls. They set up the century partnership for the seventh wicket, while they added 63 runs in the last five overs and they didn’t lose their wickets in that innings.

While Hasaranga scored 80 not out off 60 balls (7 fours and 3 sixes), Bandara scored 55 not out off 74 balls (3 fours and only six). They set up the 123 runs partnership for the unbroken seventh wicket.

Among the Caribbean bowlers, Akeal Hosein managed to claim the incredible bowling figures of 10-0-33-3.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka – 274/6 in 50 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 80*, Ashen Bandara 55*; Akeal Hosein 3/33)

West Indies – 276/5 in 48.3 overs (Darren Bravo 102, Shai Hope 64; Suranga Lakmal 2/56)

Result – West Indies won by 5 wickets