Hope century gives West Indies series lead

A century from Shai Hope helped West Indies ease to an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka were 105 for no loss at one stage, after opting to bat, but some tight bowling from Jason Holder and Jason Mohammed shot them down for just 232. Hope made 110 to take the side over the line with three overs to spare.
Sri Lanka will probably look back at the phase between overs 20 and 25 where they lost four wickets and slipped to 126 for 4. Dimuth Karunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka had given the team a solid start with a century opening stand when Kieron Pollard struck. The West Indies captain pulled off a spectacular caught and bowled chance to remove Karunaratne and create an opening for his side.
The game had its fair share of drama when Gunathilaka was adjudged out obstructing the field. On the first ball of the 22nd over, the left-handed had blocked a ball from Pollard and took off for a single. There was a mix-up with Pathum Nissanka as the pair decided against the single. While heading back to his crease, Gunathilaka was paddling back and struck the ball with his foot to take it away from Pollard, who was charging to affect a run out at the non-striker’s end. Pollard appealed immediately and the decision was sent upstairs with the on-field umpires ruling that Gunathilaka’s actions were intentional.
The third umpire upheld the decision to send the opener back for 55 as Gunathilaka became the eighth player to be dismissed in this fashion in ODI cricket. There was however plenty of debate whether Gunathilaka’s actions were deliberate given the opener wasn’t aware of where the ball was when he was trying to get back.
Nissanka and Angelo Mathews were run out while Dinesh Chandimal made just 12 to leave Sri Lanka struggling. There was a half-century from Ashen Bandara – that pushed Sri Lanka past 200 – but the wobble at the top meant the side was able to post a below-par total.
In a small chase, Evin Lewis and Hope responded with a 143-run opening stand to shut the door on the visitors. Lewis made an uncharacteristic 90-ball 65 to partner Hope as the pair stayed at the crease for 28.2 overs. Dushmantha Chameera bagged both wickets to fall – of Lewis and Hope – before Darren Bravo and Mohammed polished off the chase. Hope got to his century in the 41st over when he hit Lakshan Sandakan for a six to get to 99 and then took a single to get his 10th century in the format.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 232 in 49 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 55; Jason Mohammed 2-12) lost to West Indies 236/2 in 47 overs (Shai Hope 110, Evin Lewis 65; Dushmantha Chameera 2-50) by eight wickets.