RUTHERFORD AND MOTIE TRUMPED BY SRI LANKA’S CAPTAIN AS THE WEST INDIES SUFFER OPENING ODI DEFEAT

Sherfane Rutherford celebrates an ODI 50 v Sri Lanka

Pallekele, Sri Lanka- Sherfane Rutherford sparkled with bat in hand and Gudakesh Motie with ball, but they were not enough for the West Indies in their rain-affected first one day international against Sri Lanka.  The regional team went down by five wickets via the Duckworth Lewis Method on Sunday at Pallekele.

After skipper Shai Hope called right at the toss, and elected to bat, the Caribbean team was halted by rain in the 39th over at 185 for 4.

Openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze started brightly in a 34-run opening wicket stand before the former fell for 14, and was followed by Athanaze seven runs later at 41 for 2 in the 10th over.

Captain Shai Hope was undone by a review for leg before wicket by leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay at 54 for 3, inside the 13th over.

Sherfane Rutherford then joined Keacy Carty, who forged a partnership valued at 46 runs which took the regional team up to 100.

Carty struck a four and a six in his 37 from 58 balls before he got caught on the boundary off Sri Lanka’s captain, Charith Asalanka at 100 for 4 in the 26th over.

Rutherford then took charge of the innings alongside Roston Chase in an 85-run unbroken fifth wicket stand.

Rutherford brought up his second ODI fifty in his fourth match with a polished 74 from 82 balls, inclusive of five fours and three sixes.

Rutherford hit two of his sixes off Asalanka in consecutive overs to notch a career best score and watched as Chase joined in the party with a run a ball 33 runs.

Chase hit the boundary ropes four times before a heavy downpour of rain which lasted over two hours forced the players off the field and the innings curtailed at 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs.

Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 232 in 37 overs following the lengthy delay.

Alzarri Joseph celebrates with Teammates after taking the Wicket of Kusal Mendis

Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph gave the West Indies side hope, with two wickets in the powerplay; those of Avishka Fernando for 5 and Kusal Mendis 13 in successive overs to leave the hosts in early trouble at 22 for 2.

Gudakesh Motie then breached the defence of Sadeera Samarawickrama for 18 at 45 for 3 inside the 7th over.

However, a 137 run fourth wicket stand between Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka put the hosts in the ascendancy.

Asalanka struck a top score of 77, punctuated with eight fours and three sixes while Madushka supported with seven fours and a six.

Motie returned to claim the wickets of the two, but the hosts held on at the end and got to their target at 234 for 5 with 31 balls to spare.

Left arm spinner Motie ended with 3 for 47 while Joseph claimed 2 for 39.

The second match of the series takes place on Wednesday 23rd October at the same venue starting at 2:30 pm local time/ 5am Eastern Caribbean time and 4am in Jamaica.