T20 World Cup will have a new champion this year as West Indies were knocked out by Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
Going by the trend West Indies opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Sri Lanka’s openers however batted with caution carefully seeing out the initial overs. By the end of powerplay both openers had managed 42 runs on the board but Kusal Perrera departed in the final over.
However, his partner Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka put on a clinical partnership of 91 runs for the second wicket taking the match away from West Indies.
Nissanka scored 51 of 41 balls before departing with score 133 in 15.3 overs, After that Asalanka continued to build momentum along side Dasun Shanaka who scored a quick fire 25 of 14 balls to help his side reach a sizeable total of 189/3 in 20 overs.
West Indies got off to a less than ideal start with both openers departing inside 2 overs , to leave them reeling at 10/2. Nicolas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer then revived West Indies’ hopes with a partnership.
Pooran was then dismissed by Chameera but Hetmyer kept going at the other end.
However Sri Lanka kept tightening the noose around West Indies’ dying World Cup hopes with regular wickets. Russel, Pollard and Holder all failed to provide a stand to the defiant Hetmyer. And when Bravo fell at the end of 17th over, the game was truly over.
Hetmeyr remained not out on 81 runs of 54 balls as Sri Lanka won by 20 runs.
For West Indies it’s now about rebuilding the team as stalwarts Gayle, Pollard, Russell and Bravo may not be around for next year’s world cup. They have a few players around which the team can be built, with the likes of Pooran and Hetmeyr key to the next team they take to the event.
For Sri Lanka this will be a World Cup of a learning curve, after years of being competitive at ICC events, they have fallen on hard times. But there is progress to be seen, they have shunned shackles of the old and play a much bold brand of cricket. They ran South Africa close and have two wins under their belt in the Super 12.
They have the chance to show their progress when the T20 World Cup returns next year.
Sri Lanka 189/3 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 68, Pathum Nissanka 51; Andre Russell 2-33)
West Indies 169/8 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 81*; Wanindu Hasaranga 2-19)
Check Full scorecard here
