Dhananjaya’s knock in vain as Windies win

By M. Shamil Amit

Nipun Dhananjaya hits a ball to the fence making a top score of 65 (SLC)

An unbeaten 77 in 97 balls which had eight boundaries and a six by Damel Evelyn and a half ton by Kevlon Anderson helped West Indies Emerging XI to record a two wicket win over Sri Lanka Emerging XI in the first one-dayer of the three match series played at the SSC ground yesterday.

West Indies Emerging XI in pursuit of 185 runs in a match curtailed to 36 overs underwent some anxious moments as they lost three quick wickets with the score on 35 in the sixth over.

Damel joined by Kevlon rescued the side with the pair associating in a valuable 110 runs stand for the fourth wicket. With the score on 145 for 4 four more wickets fell as Damel held on to guide the side to victory and take a 1-0 lead.

The match was curtailed to 36 overs due to a late start and Sri Lanka Emerging XI invited to take first lease of the wicket was steered by skipper Nipun Dhananjaya who hit 65 and shared two partnerships of 41 runs for the second wicket with Asitha Wanninayake and 55 for the fourth wicket with Ranesh Silva.

But they lost the last five wickets for the addition of 43 runs in 11 overs and from a position of 141 for 5 they were bowled out for 184. The second match is scheduled to be played today.

Scores:

Sri Lanka Emerging XI 184 in 33.4 overs (Nipun Dhananjaya 65, Sineth Jayawardena 32, Asitha Wanninayake 23, Ranesh Silva 21: Zishan 3/32, Jediah Blades 3/42, Raneico Smth 2/25)

West Indies Emerging XI 185 for 8 in 31 overs (Kevlon Anderson 58, Damel Evelyn 77 n.o.: Treveen Mathews 3/30)