Kusal and Thirimanne secure first series win for Sri Lanka in 2015

Kusal Janith Perera’s astute 99 alongside Lahiru Thirimanne’s stylish 81* helped Sri Lanka take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series by beating West Indies by 8 wickets (D/L) in the second ODI at R. Premadasa International Stadium on Wednesday night.

The pair mingled with the monotonous Windies bowling attack at will during their record breaking 156-run stand for the 2nd wicket before the 25-year old Kusal mistimed a pull shot off Rampaul’s bowling and was caught unfortunately on 99. Thirimanne (81*) and Chandimal (16*) negotiated the rest of the target without any major hiccups to help Sri Lanka to their first ODI series win in 2015.

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The rain played its part in shortening the game to a 38-over encounter as the West Indies managed a below-par 214 all out in the back of opener Johnson Charles’ blistering 4th half- century and Marlon Samuels’ hard-hitting half-ton.

Earlier in the day, Marlon Samuels started off positively by winning the toss and electing to bat first. The visitors made 3 changes to their team which lost the first one-dayer while the hosts’ replaced Danushka Gunathilaka with Dinesh Chandimal after he served the one-match ban.

Slim-looking Lasith Malinga struck first blood in the first over when he removed Andre Fletcher in the second ball of the afternoon when the right-hander pushed at a good length delivery and was caught by keeper.

Debutant, Jermaine Blackwood started aggressively but his approach backfired when he attempted to slog away at Sachithra Senanayake’s first delivery. The tall off-spinner was brought on in the 5th over and a neat catch was taken at long-on by Milinda Siriwardana.

Sri Lanka’s main spin all-rounder, Milinda Siriwardana produced a vital breakthrough when left-handed Bravo mistimed a pull-shot and holed out to Dilshan at mid-wicket as the promising 70-run stand for the 3rd wicket came to an end.

Charles’ strikes cleared the boundary at ease and he placed his sweeps perfectly to the boundary rope to pick up the odd boundary in almost every over but his exhilarating knock of 83 off 70 balls was ended by Siriwardana’s arm-ball which struck right in front of his left pad.

When the heavy rain intervened, Windies were 149 for 4 in the 27th over. The play resumed at 7.30pm after a lengthy 193-minute rain interruption and the game was shortened for a 38-over affair.

Jonathan Carter was castled by Suranga Lakmal soon after the resumption and Jason Mohommad was disguised perfectly by a Malinga slower delivery as the momentum shifted towards the hosts.

Marlon Samuels batted with utter authority and responsibility to notch up his first half- century in the current tour. After being dropped on 38 by Shehan Jayasuriya, Samuels went onto score a superb 61-ball 63 but became the first of four late run-outs which buffed up the Windies charge in the death overs.

Chasing a revised target of 225 in 38 overs, Dilshan and Kusal commenced the innings in their usual fashion of attacking batting. They extracted 18 runs off Jerome Taylor’s first over which set up the chase perfectly as they raced to 40 in 4 overs. Sunil Narine was introduced in the 5th over and he struck immediately when he completely bamboozled TM Dilshan with an in-swinging delivery.

Kusal brought up his half-ton in an emphatic fashion by lofting over mid-wicket for a six off Brathwaite while Thirimanne reached the same milestone by caressing the backward point region off Taylor.

Sri Lanka will travel to Pallekelle for the third and final match which is scheduled on 7th November.