WI vs SL highlights, 1st ODI: Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 41 runs at Kingston

Time to sign off - That brings us to the end of an entertaining contest and the opening game of the series. Sri Lanka draw first blood and will now have the chance to seal the series in the second ODI, while West Indies will be eager to bounce back and force a decider. The action returns to Sabina Park, Jamaica, on Saturday, June 6, with the match set to begin at 7.30 pm GMT. As always, do join us a little earlier for all the build-up, analysis, and team news. Until then, it's goodbye from us and thank you for your company.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Kusal Mendis wins the award for his excellent knock of 72 runs off 62 balls.

Bowling unit turns the game - Sri Lanka were all over the place in the first Powerplay, conceding a few too many for their liking. However, they got the first breakthrough with a bit of luck, and then Maheesh Theekshana set the tone by removing Greaves, who was starting to look dangerous. There was a period where they struggled to create chances, but Kamindu Mendis’ stunning catch changed the momentum. Wanindu Hasaranga then found his rhythm and controlled things in the middle, and he and Theekshana combined for excellent figures of 3/69 (20 overs). Dushmantha Chameera ended any hopes of a West Indies fightback with a sensational four-wicket haul, which included the big wicket of Shai Hope, while Charith Asalanka wrapped things up to put the icing on the cake.

Visitors set a stiff target - Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka posted a commanding total, courtesy of a massive 136-run partnership between skipper Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, who was dropped off the very first ball of the innings. Both batters went on to score impressive half-centuries, while useful contributions in the 40s from Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyanage helped propel the hosts beyond the 300-run mark. It was a mixed bowling effort from West Indies, with Jayden Seales, Roston Chase and Matthew Forde sharing six wickets equally. However, Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie proved expensive and struggled to keep the scoring in check.

Windies come up short - Chasing a massive total at this ground, West Indies got off to a flying start, reaching 50 inside six overs before John Campbell was run out. Justin Greaves kept the momentum going but fell late in the Powerplay, leaving the hosts 75/2 after 10 overs. Skipper Shai Hope then stitched a 52-run stand with Keacy Carty before Kamindu Mendis produced a moment of brilliance to break through. Hope held the innings together but kept losing partners and was dismissed soon after reaching his fifty as the asking rate climbed. Chase fought hard with a 47-run partnership with Gudakesh Motie, but both fell in quick succession. A late cameo from Shamar Joseph entertained the crowd, but the chase ultimately proved too much for the tail.

Sri Lanka strike first - Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the series and begin their Caribbean tour with a professional performance, marking the start of a new era under head coach Gary Kirsten and captain Kusal Mendis. They were the better side and handled the pressure situations more effectively than the hosts. West Indies had their moments with both bat and ball, but could not capitalise in the decisive stages and will head back to the drawing board, with every defeat now hurting their chances of direct qualification to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Charith Asalanka to Jayden Seales, OUT! TAKEN! Well, that is it. SRI LANKA WIN BY 41 RUNS! Charith Asalanka gets the final wicket and gets the job done with four deliveries to spare. Flighted and fuller, outside off. Jayden Seales charges down the track to hit big to the leg side, but induces the top edge. The ball balloons toward backward point, where Janith Liyanage runs forward and takes the catch safely. 

Charith Asalanka to Jayden Seales, Short, outside off, Jayden Seales punches it back to the bowler.

Charith Asalanka to bowl the final over. Can he bowl the Windies out here?

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Back of a length, angling in, around the pads of the batter. Shamar Joseph tucks it to the leg side and the bowler charges instantly so that the batters can't get a single. Dushmantha Chameera bowled out with the figures of 10-0-67-4.

Dushmantha Chameera to Jayden Seales, Much fuller, on middle, Jayden Seales flicks it to wide long on for a single.

Good news! The light tower is back on now, and we should not be too far from resumption. In fact, we are good to go again.

Game stopped due to : Bad Light

Oh..no! Looks like the on-field umpires have deemed that the light is not good enough to continue. One of the floodlight towers has gone off, which seems to be the issue here. So, play has been stopped due to BAD LIGHT with just 8 balls remaining. We can see the Sri Lankan players sitting on the ground in a circle, with some of them doing some stretching. Stick with us for further news.

Dushmantha Chameera to Jayden Seales, NO BALL! Fuller, around off, Jayden Seales jams it back to the bowler. Chameera overstepped the popping crease and the umpire signals a No Ball. Free Hit coming up...

Dushmantha Chameera to Jayden Seales, Fires a back-of-a-length delivery, angling in, toward the batter. Jayden Seales swivels to pull it, but misses and takes a blow on his left forearm.

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Yorker once again, around off, Shamar Joseph jams it to long on for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Jayden Seales, Yorker, around off, Jayden Seales makes room and digs it to mid off for one.

Jayden Seales is the last man in.

Dushmantha Chameera to Matthew Forde, OUT! CASTLED! Make it four for Dushmantha Chameera. He sees the batter shuffling across to cover the stumps. Chameera bowls much fuller, just behind the yorker length at the stumps. Forde opens his stance with an intent to go big regardless of watching the delivery. He ends up looking to flick it, but misses on the inside edge as the ball goes between his legs and rattles the off stump.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, Full, outside off, Shamar Joseph looks to smash it away but misses.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, Full toss, on pads, Matthew Forde clisp it to long on for a single.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, FOUR BYES! Some free runs for West Indies. Milan Rathnayake sees the batter making room, so he follows and fires it much fuller, aiming at the pads of the batter. Matthew Forde looks to flick it, but misses. However, the ball nutmegs the batter and zips past the left of the keeper, who offers a dive but fails to stop it. It dribbles away for four runs to deep fine leg. 

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, Slower bouncer, on off. Matthew Forde shuffles across the stump to heave it away, but gets beaten on the top edge.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, Change of pace, a touch fuller in length, on middle. Forde whips it to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder and gets a couple of runs.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, On a good length, just outside off, Matthew Forde drills it to long off and denies the single.

Sri Lanka have been handed a penalty for slow over rate. They can only have four fielders outside the circle for the remaining 3 overs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Another bouncer to end the over, around the shoulder of the batter. Shamar Joseph swivels and swings his blade to pull, but yet again fails to hit it.

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Back of a length, on off, Shamar Joseph nudges it toward the vacant square leg region and gets a couple of runs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Chameera bends his back and offers a bouncer, on off. Shamar Joseph misses his pull shot.

Dushmantha Chameera to Matthew Forde, Yorker, outside off, Frode jams it to mid off and gets a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Matthew Forde, On a good length, outside off, Matthew Forde punches it to the right of the cover-point fielder for a couple of runs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Shamar Joseph, Much fuller, on middle, angling in. Shamar Joseph tries to flick it off his pads, but offers the short early and gets the connection on the outside edge, before the ball rolls to cover. Single taken.

Dushmantha Chameera replaces Wanindu Hasaranga.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, On a good length, on off, Shamar Joseph charges down the track and swats it from the inner part of his bat to long on for a single.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, A bit slower and fuller, around the tramline, outside off. Shamar Joseph takes a step toward the off side to hit it away, but misses.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, SIX! Sweet connection from the willow! Good-length delivery, wide outside off, Shamar Joseph heaves it across the line with a cross-bat and sails it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, Short, on middle, Matthew Forde whips it to deep square leg for one.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, WIDE! Another slower delivery, but this time it goes down the leg side. Matthew Forde attempts to pull but misses.

Milan Rathnayake to Matthew Forde, WIDE! A slower bouncer now, on middle, but that one sails over the helmet of the batter. Matthew Forde looks to upper cut it but misses.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, Much fuller, just outside off, Shamar Joseph punches it to deep cover for one.

Milan Rathnayake to Shamar Joseph, Milan Rathnayake starts off with a slower one, angling away from the batter. Shamar Joseph goes for a wild swing across the line, but his swing is nowhere near the delivery.

Milan Rathnayake cones back into the attack now.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, Slightly quicker, shortish and around off, turns away, Matthew Forde opens the bat face but guides it straight to short third. 70 needed in 30 balls now.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, Flighted, full and on off, Matthew Forde defends it on the front foot.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, Slower through the air, full and on off, turns away, Matthew Forde lunges out to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, Flatter, full and on middle, Matthew Forde pushes it back to the bowler.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, Goes short and around off, Matthew Forde steers it away to point this time.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Matthew Forde, FOUR! Nice shot! Floated, short and outside off, Matthew Forde uses the width on offer and cuts it away through backward point for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Matthew Forde, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Matthew Forde tucks it through square leg for one more. Maheesh Theekshana finishes off his spell with superb figures of 10-1-26-2.