Sri Lanka put on a dominant display to secure a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over West Indies in their warm-up match ahead of the final against Netherlands. The Sri Lankan team successfully chased down a target of 244 runs, thanks to a remarkable opening partnership of 190 runs between Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne. Both batsmen were given multiple lifelines due to a lackluster performance by the West Indian fielders. Nissanka continued his excellent form by scoring his second consecutive century, while Karunaratne contributed a solid 83 runs. Although both eventually got out, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama calmly guided Sri Lanka to victory with 34 balls to spare.
In contrast, West Indies struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. The only bright spot in their innings was Keacy Carty’s gritty knock of 87 runs off 96 balls, which helped his team post a respectable total. However, it was not enough to challenge the dominant Sri Lankan side. Maheesh Theekshana emerged as the star performer for Sri Lanka, claiming a four-wicket haul and being awarded the Player of the Match. Theekshana’s crucial breakthroughs, including the dismissal of Johnson Charles, turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favor. Despite a resilient effort from Carty and some lower-order partnerships, West Indies could not overcome Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
The match highlighted the contrasting performances of the two teams and emphasized the challenges that await Sri Lanka in the final against Netherlands. West Indies struggled both with their batting and fielding, dropping several catches during the game. In contrast, Sri Lanka showcased their dominance with strong batting performances and impressive bowling displays, particularly from Theekshana. As Sri Lanka prepares for the final, they can anticipate a tougher contest against the Dutch side.