Ton-up Nicholas Pooran (118 off 103 balls) played the innings of his life but Angelo Mathews delivered the ball of the match to get his wicket and help Sri Lanka to a 23-run victory over the West Indies in a thrilling World Cup clash at the R♉iversidꦗe Ground, Chester-le-Street on Monday.
The 339-run chase looked dead and buried in the 35th over when Carlos Brathwaite got out but the 23-year-old Pooran almost single-handedly took his team home. Have to feel for the youngster but had he received some more support from the oth♛er end, the West Indies might have ended on the winning side.
Earlier, Avishka Fernando’s maiden ODI century helped Sri Lanka post 338/6. Fernando scored 104 off 103 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 338/6 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 104, Kusal Perera 64; Holder 2/59); West Indies: 315/9𓃲 in 50 overs (Nicholas Pooran 118, Fabien Allen 51; Lasith Malinga 3/55).
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Loved this fight of the West Indies , they fell short but was a tremendous spirited chase. Chasing 140 with 4 wickets in hand in 15 overs is never easy but Nicholas Pooran gave SL a run for their money. Cong🃏ratul꧋ations to SL on the win
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Got to love the West Indies. Even when the target is seemingly beyond reach, they keep going 🤪for it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Unlike India !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
I hope we saw the initial maturing of theee fine young cricketers today. Their future success is not guaranteed; but Nicholas Pooran, Fabien Allen & Avishka Fernando showed us that🧔 the game has a bright future. WI vs SL.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
Congratulations to Sri Lanka on the win. Avishka Fernando played beautifully for his century. A really spirited run-chase by the West Indies. The three run outs hurt them badly but a w🥃onderful effort from Pooran and Fabian Allen.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Sixth defeat for the West Indies in . Their worst performance in a edition. In the 2007 edition (at home) and they lost five, but won four. In the🌺y so far could man𓆏age just one win!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Avishka Fernando (21y 87d)
Nicholas Pooran (23y 272d)Th𝐆is is the first time two players aged less than 25 years scored centuries in a World Cup game.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats)
Great knock by 🐎 .see a bright future for him. Hope Sri Lanka nurtures him
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
//twitter.com/imDhammika/s⛎tatus/114575ꦓ3264224272384
Well played young man.. B🐎rilliant 100!! Something special from Avishka. 👍
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay)
