Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC's firm position supporting Palestinian people's right to self-determination and establishment of an independent state
Darren Bravo’s fourth One-Day International century guided the West Indies to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and a clean sweep of the three-match series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday.
Set another challenging target of 275, the home side’s response was anchored by Bravo’s innings of 102 off 132 balls highlighted by five fours and four sixes.
He was the obvious choice as man of the match with Shai Hope the equally straightforward option as man of the series with the opener following earlier scores of 110 and 84 with an elegant 64 to set his team well on their way.
Sri Lanka, who made three changes to their team from the nail-biting loss in the second match two days earlier, fought to restrain a powerful West Indies batting line-up but in the end they were undone by the home side’s wealth of talent and experience.
Captain Kieron Pollard ensured there was to be no late stumble despite Bravo’s dismissal to seamer Suranga Lakmal just before the end.
He finished unbeaten on 53, having featured in an 80-run fifth-wicket stand with Bravo and watched with contentment at the non-striker’s end as the man he replaced as skipper more than a year ago, Jason Holder, hoisted a six over wide long-on off Lakmal to formalise the result with nine balls to spare.
In sweeping the series 3-0, the West Indies reversed the result of the corresponding campaign in Sri Lanka 13 months earlier.
Pollard led the West Indies to a 2-1 T20 International series win at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, also in Antigua, a week earlier and now attention shifts to the two-match Test series starting next Sunday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Wanindu Hasaranga further enhanced his all-round value with a blistering unbeaten 80 in lifting Sri Lanka to 274 for six batting first in the morning session.
Two days after blazing an unbeaten 47, Hasaranga featured in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 123 with Ashen Bandara, who was on 55 at the non-striker’s end as the rampant Hasaranga belted three fours and a six off Holder in the final over of the innings.
Their partnership was a record for the seventh wicket for Sri Lanka against the Caribbean side while Hasaranga’s individual score, which came off 60 deliveries and featured seven fours and three sixes, was a record for a Sri Lankan batting at number eight in ODIs.
Hasaranga’s innings was all the more remarkable in that he was hobbled for much of it by a left leg injury which impacted on his effectiveness as a bowler in defence of the total.
West Indies were in complete control of the match before the pair came together in the 32nd over as the visitors’ middle-order yet again failed to capitalise on a decent platform.
Danushka Gunathilaka and captain Dimuth Karunaratne put on 68 at the top of the order after they were put in.
However Gunathilaka’s demise to pacer Alzarri Joseph for 36 triggered a gradual decline to 151 for six with left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein taking three for 33 while Jason Mohammed snared his sixth wicket of the series by bowling Karunaratne for 31.
Seeking to avoid the sweep and earn their first points of the 2023 World Cup qualification table, Sri Lanka brought in seamers Lakmal and Asitha Fernando together with Dasun Shanaka in place of Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Oshada Fernando.
West Indies gave a debut to fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip at the expense of Romario Shepherd.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka
D. Gunathilaka c Allen b Joseph 36
D. Karunaratne b Mohammed 31
P. Nissanka lbw Hosein 24
D. Chandimal b Hosein 16
D. Shanaka b Hosein 22
A. Bandara not out 55
T. Perera run out 3
W. Hasaranga not out 80
Extras (lb2, nb1, w4) 7
Total (50 overs, 6 wkts) 274
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Gunathilaka), 2-70 (Karunaratne), 3-101 (Nissanka), 4-116 (Chandimal), 5-143 (Shanaka), 6-151 (Perera)
Did not bat: S. Lakmal, L. Sandakan, A. Fernando
Bowling: J. Holder 6-0-53-0, A. Joseph 10-0-51-1 (3w, 1nb), J. Mohammed 10-0-49-1 (1w), A. Phillip 6-0-43-0, A. Hosein 10-0-33-3, F. Allen 8-0-43-0
West Indies
E. Lewis b Lakmal 13
S. Hope c Lakmal b Perera 64
J. Mohammed b Hasaranga 8
D. Bravo c Karunaratne b Lakmal 102
N. Pooran lbw Gunathilaka 15
K. Pollard not out 53
J. Holder not out 14
Extras (b2, nb2, w3) 7
Total (48.3 overs, 5 wkts) 276
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Lewis), 2-39 (Mohammed), 3-148 (Hope), 4-169 (Pooran), 5-249 (Bravo)
Did not bat: F. Allen, A. Phillip, A, Joseph, A. Hosein
Bowling: S. Lakmal 9.3-1-56-2, A. Fernando 8-0-62-0 (2w, 1nb), W. Hasaranga 10-0-49-1, T. Perera 5-0-27-1 (1w), D. Gunathilaka 6-0-28-1, L. Sandakan 10-2-52-0 (1nb)
Result: West Indies won by 5 wickets
Series: West Indies won 3-0
Toss: West Indies
Umpires: Joel Wilson and Leslie Reifer (WIS)
Match Referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC's firm position supporting Palestinian people's right to self-determination and establishment of an independent state
As part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, food, shelter tents, and basic supplies were provided to Palestinian families
The South African is tied with Denmark’s Nicolai Kristensen at the halfway stage of the tournament
The neighbourhood around the consulate was closed after the 60-year-old entered the premises, claiming to be armed with an explosive vest
All competent authorities must work together and coordinate to expedite possible means of support
Emirati Jiu-Jitsu stars win 23 medals, athletes grab 11 medals, and People of Determination excel with 14 medals
The first of seven phases, Friday's vote covered 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across 21 states and territories
The unique showcase brings together a diverse lineup of comedians from India and Pakistan, promising an hour of non-stop entertainment