Liam Livingstone said England must quickly "get up to speed" and find their rhythm in the 50-over game after a humbling defeat to West Indies.

Evin Lewis plundered a brilliant 94 off just 69 balls as the Windies won by eight wickets by the Duckworth-Lewis Stern method in the opening, rain-affected ODI in Antigua on Thursday.

England had been bowled out for just 209, with stand-in captain Livingstone top-scoring with 48.

The tourists fielded an inexperienced line-up, but Livingstone knows there is no time to waste when it comes to learning on the job.

He said: "I think the test we have to come over the next few games is with the rhythms of 50-over cricket.

"We have to get up to speed as quickly as possible. We know someone in the top six has to get a big score.

"Fifty overs is a long time. We wanted to put the West Indies under pressure. 

"Conditions change and it's up to us to read them and work out what is a good score. We didn't adapt. West Indies bowled well and we lost wickets at key stages."

Sam Curran (37) was the only other batter to make a dent for England, and Alastair Cook, who was only surpassed as the nation's all-time leading Test run scorer last month, was not impressed.

Speaking in his role as a pundit for TNT Sports, Cook said: "England's batting in general in all three formats on belting wickets – absolutely brilliant, you can't stop them scoring.

"[But] when it becomes tougher, when it becomes about adapting, I'm not sure, at the minute, this group of players are good enough.

"Take Joe Root out of it, he's a class above anyone else when it comes to adjusting to situations. Everyone else has to find a way of being able to adapt better."

West Indies have now won five of their last eight ODIs against England (L3).

England had won 17 of the previous 18 fixtures prior to that span.

Lewis' phenomenal showing with the bat, which included hitting eight sixes, was key to West Indies' victory, with Adil Rashid eventually ending the opener's stand, but it was too little, too late for England.

"Evin Lewis is experienced and has been around for a long time," said Windies captain Shai Hope.

"You can see he is a different beast. He's hungry. I'm glad about the scores he's getting now."

Gudakesh Motie, however, scooped the Player of the Match award after taking 4-41.

"I wasn't getting much turn out of the wicket so I was just trying to keep it on a straight line and keep my lengths," he said.

"Runs weren't coming at both ends easily, which helped me a lot to take four wickets.

"I figured out bowling fast in these conditions was easier [to play] so I was trying to bowl as slow as possible."

Jofra Archer (0-21) bowled well without reward. He is four wickets away from becoming the 30th player to take 50 wickets for England in men's ODIs.

Jos Buttler is eager to put his "frustrating" injury absence behind him, and the England white-ball captain has "loads of hunger" to get back on the field.

A recurring calf injury has kept Buttler sidelined since June, with the 34-year-old also set to miss the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on Thursday.

Liam Livingstone will take over as captain in the absence of Buttler, who should return for the subsequent five-match T20 series in the Caribbean.

And the keeper-batter cannot wait to appear for his country once more.

"It's been frustrating, but now it's feeling good, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field," he told TNT Sports. 

"[I've had] a couple of little setbacks along the way, which is frustrating, but I'm using it to motivate me. I'm just excited to get back on the pitch and back with the bat in hand in the middle.

"I'm OK at watching. I think it fuels that fire to get out in the middle and play. You want to be performing and part of the team, leading the side.

"I try not to have a mindset of being frustrated, but take it as a bit of an extended break out of the game. But hopefully, [I can] see it as some time away to really give me loads of hunger to get back on the field."

Buttler also offered his thoughts on Livingstone, who he believes is the safe pair of hands to take over the captaincy for the ODI series.

"Liam is one of the more experienced numbers in that group, and it gives him a chance to get some leadership experience, build that leadership group," he added.

"He's a player that's exciting as well, we know what he's capable of, and it's a really good opportunity for him to lead the team.

"I think it's really important to let them go out there and do their thing. You don't want to be asking someone to do exactly what you want to do, you're trying to give guys experience. If he needs a sounding board or anything, he can certainly ask my opinion."

West Indies white ball head coach Daren Sammy was pleased his side was able to register a win in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka on Saturday but notes that his side must improve in two key areas ahead of their upcoming home series against England.

In a rain-affected game in Pallekele, the hosts batted first and made 156-3 off their 23 overs before the West Indies, chasing a revised target of 195, got to 196-2 with an over to spare, avoiding a series sweep and registering their first win in the format in 2024.

The performance today, particularly with the bat, showed Sammy what can be possible when his side commits to a plan, specifically batting with intent.

The batting was led by Evin Lewis and Sherfane Rutherford who finished not out on 102 and 50, respectively.

“Evin (Lewis), in his first game in three years, was just amazing and Rutherford has been good throughout the series. Those were two shining lights for us,” Sammy said in a post-match interview on Saturday.

With that said, Sammy also noted that his troops were not up to par with the ball or in the field and struggled in the first two games on spin friendly pitches.

“The way we fielded and the way we bowled throughout the series was not up to the mark and when we were challenged on spin friendly wickets, our batsmen did not respond,” he said.

“All in all, it’s good to finish with an emphatic win heading into the England series but a lot of learning from this trip,” he added.

The team will now turn their attention to three ODIs and five T20Is at home against England from October 31-November 17.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Sammy said.

“Something about West Indians, whenever it’s time to play England, they’re always up for the challenge. It’s a big rivalry series and it’s at home. We’ve done well at home over the past 12-18 months. Hopefully we can give a better display than what we did in Sri Lanka,” he added.

England last toured the West Indies from December 3-21 last year, losing the ODI series 1-2 and the T20I series 2-3.

West Indies ended their tour of Sri Lanka with a win as an unbeaten century from Evin Lewis helped them defeat the hosts by eight wickets via DLS method in the third and final ODI in Pallekele. 

Sri Lanka had secured the series with a five-wicket win in the second ODI on Wednesday, but Lewis’ unbeaten 102 off 61 balls gave the Windies a morale-boosting victory in the final ODI. 

West Indies had sent Sri Lanka to bat, but their innings was disturbed by rain in the 18th over. Upon returning to the crease after a five-hour delay, they were only given 5.4 overs to set a competitive total. 

The hosts managed 75 runs after the restart with Kusal Mendis headlining their innings with an unbeaten 56 off 22 balls as Sri Lanka finished with 156-3. 

Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 195 in 23 overs, Lewis hit a swashbuckling hundred in his first ODI since 2021 with support coming from Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed an unbeaten 50 off 26 deliveries. 

West Indies reached the target with one over to spare, and they will gather some confidence from the win as they prepare for the ODI series against England starting on October 31. 

A fifth ODI hundred from Evin Lewis and a third consecutive half-century from Sherfane Rutherford propelled the West Indies to an eight-wicket DLS method consolation win over Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The West Indies, after winning the toss and electing to field first, restricted the Sri Lankans to 156-3 off the 23 overs that were possible due to rain.

Opener Pathum Nissanka made 56 off 62 balls while wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Mendis also made 56*, with his coming off a swift 22 balls including nine fours and a six.

Avishka Fernando contributed 34 as Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford took a wicket apiece.

Set a revised target of 195 from 23 overs, the West Indians got to their target with an over to spare to avoid a series sweep and get their first ODI victory of 2024.

Evin Lewis was the star of the show with 102* off 61 balls including nine fours and four sixes, with the last of those sixes securing both the win and his third hundred against Sri Lanka.

Sherfane Rutherford was with Lewis in the end, finishing 50* off 26 balls after scores of 74* and 80 in the first two matches.

Captain Shai Hope and Brandon King contributed 22 and 16, respectively, as Dilshan Madushanka and Asitha Fernando shared the two Sri Lanka wickets.

Full Scores:

Sri Lanka 156-3 off 23 overs (Kusal Mendis 56*, Pathum Nissanka 56, Avishka Fernando 34, Roston Chase 1-20, Sherfane Rutherford 1-27)

West Indies 196-2 off 22 overs (Evin Lewis 102*, Sherfane Rutherford 50*).

With the disappointment of back-to-back losses hanging heavy in the air, the West Indies will enter Saturday’s final One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, hoping to avoid a 3-0 sweep at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

In fact, West Indies captain Shai Hope was not shy to admit that this last contest in the three-match series is about more than just pride, it is about learning from mistakes and building resilience for the future.

The West Indies struggled with both bat and ball in the first two encounters, which they lost by five wickets. Hope acknowledges that those matches have exposed key areas that his side must improve upon, particularly their handling of spin and situational awareness under pressure.

“There are several factors we can point out, but I just think not adapting to the conditions fast enough was our main problem. Obviously, we didn't win the crucial stages of the game, and obviously, the spin department has been the only thing we have going right now for us. But yeah, the thing is, there are a lot of lessons that we need to take from the series. We can't change the past right now; we have to learn from it, and it's very important we do so quickly,” Hope said in a pre-game interview.

Hope emphasized that players need to improve individually and as a whole to support one another and create a solid, cohesive unit. He noted that achieving that level of synergy would take time but remained optimistic about the direction the team is headed.

“We have to keep trying. We have to keep finding ways to get better. I think it's more mental than anything at this point in time because skill work is skill work, yes, but we have to make sure we find ways to adapt as quickly as we can. One day of practice is not going to make us into the greatest batter or the greatest bowler ever. So there's more mental prep that we need to do right now at this stage and plan well,” Hope argued.

With the series outcome already decided, Saturday’s match will serve as a final test of character for the West Indies team, with fans and players alike hoping for a redeeming performance. However, to achieve that feat, the top order of the batting lineup will need to counter Sri Lanka's challenging spin attack, while the bowling unit will also have to be on point.

“Yeah, for sure, it has not been good enough. We asked the openers and the top-order batters to set the platform for the guys in the middle, and it's clear to see we didn't do that in this series, and we had to depend a lot on the lower order, which they played really well, in my opinion. But if we get those good starts or if we get that good start in this last game here, I think it would be a whole change to the context of the game,” Hope noted.

That said, the skipper singled out middle-order batsman Sherfane Rutherford, who scored 74 and 80 in the first two games, including sharing in an historic 119-run nine-wicket partnership with Gudakesh Motie in the second contest.

“He's been playing really well. He's been putting a lot of work off the field, and a lot of people won't see that, but the way he's progressed and matured for his career so far, I think, is tremendous. I think there's a lot that he can take from these few performances that he's had so far,” Hope said.

“He's shown that he's capable of batting and adapting to those conditions that we speak about in the team room. But, yeah, I think he's got a lot more to offer, and it's great to see he's getting those big scores now and all that hard work he's putting in is coming to fruition,” he ended.

West Indies suffered a series-defining loss in the second One-day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, as they again went down by five wickets in Pallekele on Wednesday.

The defeat, which resulted from another disappointing batting performance, saw Sri Lanka taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving the Caribbean side with mere hopes of salvaging pride in the final game on Saturday.

After a dismal batting collapse that saw the West Indies at a shocking 58-8 in the rain-affected contest, which was reduced to 44 overs per team, it was an historic ninth-wicket partnership between Sherfane Rutherford (80) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) that added a glimmer of respectability to their total.

The pair put together 119 runs, the highest-ever ninth-wicket stand in West Indies' ODI history, with Rutherford smashing four sixes and seven fours in his 82-ball knock, while Motie’s maiden ODI half-century came off 61 balls and included six boundaries, as they lifted the side to 189.

However, the damage had already been done by Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack led by spinners Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25). Seamer Asitha Fernando had 3-35. Their batting unit led by an unbeaten 62 from captain Charith Asalanka then surpassed their target with some degree of comfort.

Scores: West Indies 189 (36 overs); Sri Lanka 190-5 (38.2 overs)

After being asked to take first strike, the West Indies’ top and middle order, with the exception of Rutherford, again failed miserably, as they crumbled under the pressure of Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy assault. In fact, besides Rutherford and Motie, opener Brandon King (16) was the only other batsman in double figures, which tells the tale of the alarming regularity in which the wickets fell.

By the 16th over, the Caribbean side had lost eight wickets for just 58 runs, with no batsman managing to stabilize the innings. However, in what seemed like a foregone conclusion, Rutherford and Motie showed resilience and defiance and gave the team a fighting chance, but their efforts were ultimately too little, too late.

West Indies bowlers initially showed some promise, as vice captain Alzarri Joseph (2-30) and Motie (1-18) picked up early wickets, but Sri Lanka's steady chase, led by Asalanka, ensured there would be no upset.

Asalanka, who struck seven fours and a solitary six in his 61-ball knock, anchored the innings with the assistance of Sadeera Samarawickrama (38) and Janith Liyanage (24), after Nishan Madushka (38) earlier got things going.

West Indies captain Shai Hope expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly with the batting, as they are now left to play for pride in the third and final ODI.

“I really don't like to focus on things we can't control. Today it was disappointing. We just need to get through the powerplay and negate the spin threat. We needed to limit the dot balls so hopefully we can play better in the last game. We are not putting enough revs on the ball, bowling quickly as well, and so we need to take lessons from Sri Lanka’s spinners,” Hope said in a post-game interview.

 “We didn’t put enough runs on the board, and that’s been the story for us in this series. We’ve got to do better in the third game.”

West Indies captain Shai Hope has made it clear that his team will approach the second ODI contest against Sri Lanka as a must-win, treating it like a final in order to keep their hopes of topping the three-match series alive.

After suffering a five-wicket defeat in a rain-affected opening encounter, the West Indies are trailing 1-0, making Wednesday’s clash a decisive one, especially as they hunt ranking points to move up the leaderboard in the format.

Hope, who will be tasked with playing a steadying role in the middle order should his top-order fail, acknowledged the disappointment of losing the first game but believes that the Caribbean side can bounce back with a stronger, more cohesive performance.

First ball is 4:00am Jamaica time, 5:00am in the Eastern Caribbean.

“We did some drawing board prep; we know exactly what's in front of us and so we have to play the next game like a final. We see where we are in terms of the rankings on the world stage and we have to find ways to get better and improve quickly,” Hope said in a pre-game interview.

“Having said that, we've got to make sure we take each game at a time, and seeing what happened in the previous game, we've got to look at the learnings that we can find there and understand how we need to improve in terms of our bowling and batting. So I think we got our work cut out; the conversations that we've had over the last 48 hours or so have been pretty good, and I think that we're in good headspace to bounce back,” he added.

The West Indies fell short in the first game, largely due to lapses in the bowling department, as Sri Lanka was set a revised total of 232 based on the Duckworth Lewis method.

Despite a promising start in which they snared three wickets in the PowerPlay, they were unable to see off the game, and Sri Lanka chased down their target comfortably. Only Gudakesh Motie (3-47) and Alzarri Joseph (2-39) showed little fight with the ball.

With that in mind, Hope pointed to the need for more consistency from his players, particularly in capitalizing on strong starts and finishing innings with authority.

“Challenging conditions are all part of the game. We would have hoped that the rain didn't come in to play a factor, but having said that, we've got to find ways to negate that. We can't focus too much on things we can't control... we definitely can't control the weather, so we've got to find ways to bowl with the wet ball if we have to do it again in the next game,” Hope stated.

“I just think our lines and lengths have to be better depending on whichever surface you're playing on. I think regardless of if it's wet or not, we got to make sure our lines and lengths are a lot better as a bowling group and then when we're batting, I think we need to show a bit more intent. So I think those are the key areas that we need to focus on going into the next game,” he declared.

Knowing very well that the series is on the line, Hope is urging his teammates to step up and deliver a performance that showcases their potential, even more so to take the Sri Lankan spinners out of their comfort zones.

“Obviously, we got to look at the PowerPlay. We need to see how we are going to attack the Powerplay and then how we are going to attack their spinners to put them under pressure in some way. If we’ve got to play different shots, if we’ve got to look at different scoring areas, push a little bit harder to make them think,” Hope reasoned.

“If we just allow them to set and bowl, then they're going to be all over us. So as a team, as a batting group, we've got to ensure we put a lot more pressure on their bowlers so we can give ourselves the best chance to get big scores on the board,” he ended.

With a subpar bowling effort resulting in Sri Lanka taking a 1-0 lead in their three-match One Day International (ODI) series, West Indies bowling coach James Franklin is hoping the bowlers will get their acts together to assist in turning the Caribbean side’s fortunes in the next two fixtures.

Franklin, a former New Zealand all-rounder, acknowledged that the West Indies lacked proper execution in the bowling department, as they went down by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Sunday’s opening contest.

After losing over three hours of play due to heavy showers during the West Indies’ batting innings, Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 232 in 37 overs, which they made light work of, as only Gudakesh Motie (3-47) and Alzarri Joseph (2-39) showed any real fight with the ball.

“We were given a total that we felt that we could defend, and we had a great start with the ball. We got three wickets in that power play reduced down to eight overs and had Sri Lanka under some pressure, but they had a really significant partnership with the captain Asalanka and the debutant Madushka,” Franklin said.

“We probably weren’t as good with our execution with the ball yesterday [Sunday]—I think that will be the general reflection—and going into the next game, I think we can be a lot better with our execution, with our lengths, particularly. We’re 1-0 down in this three-game series. We’ve got a couple of days now to reflect and work on where our improvements lie going into this next game,” he added.

Though disappointed with the manner of the opening loss, Franklin is backing the Shai Hope-captained team to bounce back in Wednesday’s second contest, as well as in the final encounter on Saturday to top the series.

“We’re on a journey as an ODI team, and we have to keep improving, keep trying to move ourselves up the rankings in terms of the ICC table. We’re coming here to Sri Lanka, who has always been a good team in their own country and difficult to beat in their own conditions, so we know we have a huge challenge these next couple of games,” Franklin reasoned.

“While yesterday (Sunday) was disappointing, we know that we’re still in this series; we know we have a huge game coming up on Wednesday, and we just have to execute our skills for longer.

“We know what surface we’re going to get; it’s going to be a very similar surface again. So we’re going to prep well and make sure that we’re a little bit better with our execution with the ball,” he ended.

Liam Livingstone will captain England for the first time in the ODI series against West Indies, with Jos Buttler unavailable after a setback in his injury recovery.

Buttler has not played since the T20 World Cup disappointment due to a calf injury, and will not feature in the three-match series of the 50-over clashes.

Wicket-keeper and star batter Buttler will return for the five-match T20I series that follows in the Windies, though his absence allows Livingstone to complete a remarkable turnaround for his country.

Lancashire all-rounder Livingstone was left out of the squad initially for last month's white-ball fixtures with Australia, but earned a recall thanks to Buttler's injury issues.

The 31-year-old will now lead his country with a side that also includes uncapped Essex wicket-keeper Michael Pepper in the squad after he impressed in England's T20 Blast domestic competition.

Harry Brook had captained England in Buttler's absence against Australia, but the Yorkshire batter will be unavailable due to his ongoing involvement in the Test tour of Pakistan.

Livingstone will hope for victory in his first outing leading the side when England start the three-match ODI series against the Windies in Antigua on October 31.

England white-ball squad:

Jos Buttler (Lancashire – captain) T20 series only, Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Jafer Chohan (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Michael Pepper (Essex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Reece Topley (Surrey), John Turner (Hampshire).

Players from seven teams have been included in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament.

Champions New Zealand and runners-up South Africa are represented by three players apiece (including the 12th player) while stars from England, India, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Australia are also selected.

Amelia Kerr, who picked up Player of the Match in the final as well as the Player of the Tournament trophy, is a natural inclusion following a superb campaign with bat and ball.

The 24-year-old took 15 wickets – the most by any player at a single ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – and scored 135 runs, top-scoring with 43 in the final to help the White Ferns lift the trophy for the first time.

She is joined in the squad by teammates Rosemary Mair, who took 10 wickets at 11.70 including three in the final, and Eden Carson, listed as 12th in this team after nine wickets of her own.

South Africa’s opening pair finished as the two highest run-scorers in the competition and both Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits are selected.

Wolvaardt was remarkably consistent, with four scores of 40 or above including a best of 59 not out in the opener against West Indies helping her to a tournament-high tally of 223 at 44.60. The 25-year-old, who is named as captain of the Team of the Tournament, struck at 113.19 across her six innings.

Her opening partner Brits also contributed valuable runs throughout the competition, making 187 in total with a best of 57 not out, as the pair played an integral role for South Africa in the powerplay.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge joins them in the top order after scoring 151 runs in four innings. She top-scored with 41 in England’s opening victory against Bangladesh before important knocks of 43 and 51 not out in wins over South Africa and Scotland respectively.

No South African had reached double figures for wickets in a single ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before but Nonkululeko Mlaba changed that with a string of impressive displays in the UAE.

She entered the wickets column in all six matches she played in, taking four for 29 against West Indies and three for 12 against Scotland, while Mlaba also earned the key scalp of Tahlia McGrath in South Africa’s semi-final win over Australia and two wickets in the final.

Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana takes the gloves following an impressive competition. She led her side to their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory for 10 years against Scotland and impressed with the bat against both West Indies (39) and South Africa (32 not out).

She is joined in the middle order by Harmanpreet Kaur, who ended the tournament with a remarkable average of 150 after being dismissed just once in four innings. The India star made unbeaten half-centuries against both Sri Lanka and Australia.

Megan Schutt is also selected following a history-making competition which saw her become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history.

The Australian took her tally to 48 with eight victims in 2024, including three for three against New Zealand, and went at just 4.07 runs per over across the tournament.

West Indies pair Deandra Dottin and Afy Fletcher complete the line-up. Dottin, who came out of retirement to feature in the competition, made 120 runs and took five wickets. She also struck nine sixes, six more than the next highest by an individual player.

Leg-spinner Fletcher is included after taking 10 wickets at 11.50, including three apiece against England and Scotland. The 37-year-old also took two scalps against both Bangladesh and New Zealand.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – Team of the Tournament

Laura Wolvaardt (capt)
Tazmin Brits
Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Amelia Kerr
Harmanpreet Kaur
Deandra Dottin
Nigar Sultana (wk)
Afy Fletcher
Rosemary Mair
Megan Schutt
Nonkululeko Mlaba
12th player - Eden Carson

Sri Lanka drew first blood in their ODI series with the West Indies, who they beat by five wickets in Pallekele.

The tourists were going well on 185-4 after 38.3 overs, before their innings was cut short due to rain, and the hosts subsequently chased down their DLS-adjusted target of 232 successfully to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the West Indies made a promising start but found themselves at 54-3 before Sherfane Rutherford joined Keacy Carty in the middle.

Amid their cautious approach on the greasy surface, Rutherford notched up 74 not out, and it looked like they would easily surpass the 200 mark until the rain halted their momentum.

Sri Lanka stumbled to 45-3 after the seventh over in a nervy start, but an impressive 137-run stand between Charith Asalanka (77) and debutant Nishan Madushka (69) got them back on track and well on course for victory.

Despite them both falling, Kamindu Mendis (30 not out) and Janith Liyanage (18 not out) saw the hosts over the line.

Data Debrief: A mammoth stand

Rutherford led the West Indies' charge by top-scoring with 74, claiming his second ODI half-century along the way.

However, it proved academic, with Asalanka and Madushka spearheading Sri Lanka's response, with contributions of 77 from 71 balls and 69 off 54 deliveries respectively.

It proved more than enough to see the hosts over the line, despite the best efforts of Gudakesh Motie, who finished with figures of 3-47.

Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by five wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the first ODI at Pallekele on Sunday, marking their third consecutive victory after winning the last two T20 Internationals to clinch the series 2-1.

Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 232 in 37 overs, Sri Lanka’s pursuit was powered by a crucial 137-run partnership between Nishan Madushka and Charith Asalanka. The pair's half-centuries laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s victory, which came with 31 balls to spare. Their century stand came in just 88 balls, as they took full advantage of the wayward West Indies bowling.

Madushka and Asalanka were ruthless in their approach, capitalizing on poor deliveries, with only Gudakesh Motie providing any resistance. Motie was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3-47, while Alzarri Joseph chipped in with 2-39. However, their efforts were not enough to stifle Sri Lanka’s charge, as they raced to 200 in just 27.3 overs, making victory inevitable.

After Asalanka’s departure, Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis put on an unbroken 47-run partnership to secure the win. Liyanage remained unbeaten on 18, while Mendis finished on 30 not out.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies had been frustrated by rain, which halted their innings at 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs. Sherfane Rutherford had mounted a counter-attack, scoring an unbeaten 74, while Roston Chase contributed 33 not out in an 85-run fifth-wicket stand. Their partnership came off 78 deliveries and provided a much-needed boost after Sri Lanka’s spinners had dominated the early proceedings.

Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, taking 2-18, while Jeffrey Vandersay and Charith Asalanka claimed a wicket apiece. Despite the interruption caused by rain, Sri Lanka’s spinners laid the groundwork for a comfortable chase, leaving the West Indies unable to capitalize on the toss and their decision to bat first.

With this five-wicket win, Sri Lanka takes an early lead in the three-match ODI series, continuing their momentum from the T20s.

West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope knows all too well that winning their three-match series against Sri Lanka will be incumbent on players pulling their weight and executing with precision.

In fact, Hope highlighted the need for consistency across all departments, stressing that no one can afford to have an off day if the team is to compete at the highest level and climb back up the ICC rankings, as crucial ICC ranking points and World Cup qualification implications are at stake in this series.

The opening match of the series will take place at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Game time is 4:00am Jamaica time and 5:00am Easter Caribbean Time.

“We're looking ahead, so we got to ensure that we play good cricket and see if we can get ourselves back up the rankings. We don't necessarily have to qualify this time around, but we got to take it one step at a time because, as much as we are looking ahead, we still got to make sure we stay in the present as well,” Hope said in a pre-game press conference.

“We've got a few new members, we got some returning guys, and we've got to gel those consistent performances together as best as we can. Especially now when things are not looking too bright for us in the last couple of years. But I'm sure we've got everything in the tank that we need to become a successful team,” he added.

Despite having undeniable talent, the West Indies have struggled to string together efficient performances in the ODI format, in particular, and Hope believes this is where the team must show improvement if they are to rise in the rankings, as the Caribbean side is currently lagging at 10th in the rankings.

“We want to improve in all areas. As you can see, we're not where we want to be, but this is how it goes. Sometimes you can't win every game, but in order to be one of the top teams in the world, you got to be a lot more consistent in all three areas. So we just need to be more ruthless when it comes to our preparation and the way we go out there on the field and just find ways to win key moments in games and do it more consistently,” Hope stressed.

With Sri Lanka expected to pose a tough challenge, especially on their home turf, Hope is determined to ensure that his squad is mentally and physically prepared for what lies ahead.

“Well, whenever you come to Sri Lanka, you got to expect the ball to do a little bit, especially from a spin bowling standpoint. But yeah, we can't have too much of a predetermined mindset; we have to wait and see what the pitch is going to offer tomorrow (Sunday).

“It's important to have an idea, but at the end of the day you still got to play what you see. It's important that we understand that it can look like a dust bowl but play pretty much straight on, so we got to make sure we're very adaptable in that aspect and ensure that we're ready to play whatever they throw at us,” Hope noted.

While his squad includes the likes of vice captain Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, and young stalwarts such as 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, Hope emphasized the need for each player to focus on executing their roles with discipline.

“Everyone has to pull their weight. I'm not going to single out and say the fast bowler has to do x or y. But yes, we know the quality of bowlers that we have, and as long as the confidence is there and the planning is there, all we need to do is execute. So the rest is up to us; we've got the ball in our court, and so we've got to make sure we're playing good cricket starting with this first game on Sunday,” the Barbadian ended.