T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka end Windies’ title defence

Abu Dhabi - Chasing 190 to win, the West Indies reached 169-8 in their 20 overs, leaving Australia and South Africa to fight for the final semifinal spot from Group 1

Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by 20 runs at the T20 World Cup on Thursday, confirming the defending champions’ elimination from the tournament.

Chasing 190 to win, the West Indies reached 169-8 in their 20 overs, leaving Australia and South Africa to fight for the final semifinal spot from Group 1 where leaders England are already effectively through.

Charith Asalanka (68) and Pathum Nissanka (51) led already-eliminated Sri Lanka to 189-3 before Shimron Hetmyer top-scored for West Indies with a career-best unbeaten 81.

Sri Lanka ended their campaign with two wins in five games, while the West Indies have one victory in four ahead of their final pool clash with Australia on Saturday.

“They have a long career ahead and a lot of good cricket to come,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said of Asalanka, 24, and 23-year-old Nissanka.

“Anywhere they go, they’ll have a special place in the team. I think the team is going in the right direction at the moment.”

Asalanka, coming in at number three, reached his half-century off 33 balls with a stylish innings boasting six fours.

Opener Nissanka made 51 with his fifty coming off 39 balls with five fours.

Asalanka was eventually out for 68 in the 19th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, caught by Hetmyer at deep square leg off Andre Russell having hit a total of eight fours and a six.

Shanaka added a late cameo of 25 from 14 balls.

In reply, only Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran reached double figures for the West Indies.

Hetmyer’s 81 came off 54 balls with eight fours and four sixes.

Pooran’s 46 came from 34 deliveries and featured six fours and a six.

But the rest of the West Indies batters failed dismally with 42-year-old Chris Gayle managing just a single to take his tournament total 30 in four innings.

Fellow veterans Kieran Pollard, the skipper, was out for a first ball duck while Dwayne Bravo made just two.

“We have spoken time and time again especially from a batting perspective what we need to do as individuals and we have not done well,” said Pollard.

“A couple of young guys are putting up their hands but the experienced guys, myself included, have not done well.

“We are not going to hide from the fact that it’s been disappointing for us. I’m sure all the guys are hurting in that dressing room.”

Asalanka, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, said: “Before this World Cup I hadn’t played a lot of T20 cricket. I asked senior players questions and wanted to get better and better by the day.

“I want to say, I was waiting for five years and I worked hard to come to the national side. I just want to carry on, work hard and win more matches for my country.” — AFP