Sri Lanka 240 for 6 (Samarawickrama 66, Perera 61; Matthews 2-46) beat West Indies 230 all out (Taylor 66, Glasgow 50; Ranaweera 4-44) by 10 runs
The West Indies suffered a 10-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first One Day International (ODI) at Grenada’s National Stadium on Friday. The teams exhibited contrasting top-order displays, with the Caribbean side’s slow start proving detrimental.
Despite a new-look opening partnership, it was a familiar struggle with the new ball for the West Indies. The Caribbean side once again failed to find early penetration, with Hasini Perera and captain Chamari Athapaththu sharing in a 49-run stand for the first wicket. The breakthrough came in the 12th over when Hayley Matthews (2/46) had her opposite number, Athapaththu, caught for 27.
Harshitha Samarawickrama joined Perera, and the pair would go on to top-score for the visiting team, putting on 86 for the second wicket before Aaliyah Alleyne accounted for Perera (61), with Sri Lanka 135 for 2 in the 32nd.
Samarawickrama was once again involved in a half-century stand, this time putting on an even fifty with Nilakshika Silva for the third wicket. The West Indies responded with a double strike as Matthews followed up the stumping of Samarawickrama (66) at the end of Karishma Ramharack’s 42nd over by trapping Silva lbw for 22 to begin the 43rd.
A run-a-ball 38-run partnership between Kavisha Dilhari (22) and Vishmi Gunaratne (16*), along with 13 runs from the final over of the innings, helped Sri Lanka to 240 for 6 from their allotment.
A week following the appointment, Chinelle Henry insists her new role as West Indies vice-captain “hasn’t really changed much of anything” just yet. The all-rounder is, however, keen to approach the new chapter as deputy to Hayley Matthews with an embracing mindset.
“The preparation has been the same, [and] I’ll still go about playing the game the same,” Henry began. “[The title] doesn’t change who I am as a person or player. It’s just about stepping into more responsibility.”
Having previously been primarily utilized as a bowling all-rounder, Henry’s ever-increasing stature has coincided with her sustained growth as a batter over the last four years. Her rise has been globally noted and accentuated by stints in India’s Women’s Premier League and Australia’s Women’s Big Bash in the last two seasons.
Forde’s new-ball exploits back up Hope’s 75 as Windies win out in Group C
West Indies 165 for 5 (Hope 75, Rutherford 24*; Kalugamage 2-25) beat Italy 123 all out (Manenti 26, Smuts 24; Forde 3-19) by 42 runs
The West Indies finished atop Group C of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a perfect four wins from four following a 42-run victory over Italy at Eden Gardens on Thursday. A captain’s knock from Shai Hope propelled the Caribbean side to a defendable total ahead of a tone-setting new-ball spell from Matthew Forde.
West Indies lost the wickets of Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer early in their innings. Ali Hasan ended King's six-ball stay, continuing his sluggish tournament. The right-hander feathered an inside edge through to the keeper for 4 in the second over. Hetmyer (1) was then caught at short third off a flying edge to begin the 5th with West Indies 31 for 2. At the other end, Shai Hope had picked up where he left off against Nepal, timing the ball all around the ground.
He was joined by Roston Chase, and the two shared in a 64-run stand (50 balls) for the third wicket. Chase stuttered his way to 24 off 25 before he was caught in the deep trying to accelerate in the 13th, leaving the West Indies 95 for 3.
Chase’s wicket was the first of three the West Indies lost in a 17-ball period where they scored 20 runs, after Rovman Powell was dismissed for a run-a-ball 9, followed by Hope, who fell for an innings-shaping 46-ball 75.
WI captain speaks of inspiring teammates and making the Caribbean tough for opposition
Following an eight-month-long period of inactivity, the West Indies will return to action on Friday in the first of three Women’s One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Sri Lanka in Grenada.
The series will be the Caribbean side’s third since failing to qualify for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, after suffering 3-0 and 2-1 losses to England and South Africa, respectively. And captain Hayley Matthews wants Windies to apply a ‘clean slate’ outlook against what she deems “really good opposition.”
“It's a new year and a fresh start to the year, [so] we want to go out there with vibes high and energy high from the very first match,” Matthews said.
The 27-year-old has once again echoed the sentiments of head coach Shane Deitz in not only wanting to win but also embracing the style of cricket associated with the Caribbean.
“We feel as though if we play the right brand of cricket and we play with the right energy and the right passion, the results will certainly follow,” she said.
Fawad Sarwar, a businessman based in the United States, has acquired the rights to the Jamaican franchise, which is set to return to the Caribbean Premier League this summer.
Talks with GMR Group, co-owners of Indian Premier League side Delhi Capitals, have reportedly fallen through, paving the way for the Pakistan-born Sarwar, who operates the FKS Group and Kingsmen Sports and Enterprise, to close the deal.
The companies also own the Minor League Cricket side, Chicago Kingsmen, as well as the newly established Hyderabad Kingsmen, a Pakistan Super League expansion team.
Meanwhile, Sabina Park is set to host four matches when the CPL makes its long-awaited return to Jamaica this summer. A statement from the league revealed that the development is a result of “productive and collaborative discussions with the Government of Jamaica."
