1st ODI, Overview
1st ODI, Kingston, June 03, 2026, Sri Lanka tour of West Indies
Sri Lanka: 303/7
West Indies: (49.2/50 ov, T:304) 262
Sri Lanka won by 41 runs
Sri Lanka kicked off their new era under captain Kusal Mendis and coach Gary Kirsten with a convincing 41-run victory. An all-round team performance gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Now the question is whether the hosts can fight back. After a two-day break, the second ODI—a day-night contest—will be played at the same venue. That’s all from us for now. Goodbye!
18:41 Local Time, 23:41 GMT, 05:11 IST: West Indies made a rapid start in pursuit of 300-plus runs, racing to 50 in just six overs. Sri Lanka struck back when Janith Liyanage’s direct run-out removed Campbell. In the final over of the first powerplay, Theekshana bowled Greaves for 45. Keacy Carty and captain Shai Hope then added a fifty-run partnership, but Carty fell to a brilliant one-handed grab by Kamindu. Rutherford didn’t last long. Despite struggling with cramps, Hope kept the chase alive with a fifty off 61 balls. Chameera returned to dismiss him in his second over. Chase and Motie shared 47 runs, but Motie struggled to score quickly and was taken by Theekshana. Chameera then used reverse swing to clean up both Chase and Alzarri. Sri Lanka’s spinners bowled tightly, and their pacers used pace variations effectively. Earlier, the visitors had posted 303 thanks to contrasting fifties from Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, plus a late cameo from Liyanage. After a difficult start with the ball, Sri Lanka pulled things back to seal a convincing win.
Match starts:2nd ODI, Jun 07, 19:30 GMT
Match: WI vs SL • 2nd ODI • Sri Lanka tour of West Indies 2026
Series: Sri Lanka tour of West Indies 2026
Date: Jun 07
Time: 2:30 PM LOCAL, 7:30 PM GMT, 12:30 PM PT, 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
| West Indies squad Players Shai Hope (c), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Shamar Springer | Sri Lanka squad Players Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (c), Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan |
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – Under the floodlights of a high‑drama day‑night contest, Sri Lanka delivered a complete performance to take an unassailable 2‑0 lead in the three‑match series against West Indies. After a 41‑run victory in the opener, Kusal Mendis’s men knew the hosts would fight back hard. What followed was a tense, see‑saw battle that kept a passionate Caribbean crowd on edge until the final powerplay. Yet, once again, the visitors’ discipline with both bat and ball proved decisive. For West Indies, the search for consistency continues. And for Sri Lanka, the Gary Kirsten era is gaining genuine momentum. Let’s rewind a remarkable evening under the lights.
Toss and Tactics: Hope Chooses to Bowl First
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and had no hesitation in sending Sri Lanka in to bat. The logic was straightforward—use any early moisture under overcast skies and then chase under lights on a surface expected to hold up well. Sri Lanka made one change: left‑arm spinner Dunith Wellalage replaced pacer Dilshan Madushanka to add more variety to a spin attack already featuring Theekshana and Hasaranga. West Indies brought in Roston Chase for Gudakesh Motie, aiming to deepen their batting while retaining quality off‑spin.
Nissanka Anchors, Mendis Accelerates: Sri Lanka Post 296/7
The opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando started cautiously, respecting the extra bounce of Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. The first powerplay yielded only 41 runs—a deliberate approach given the series lead. Fernando fell to a sharp short ball from Joseph, but Nissanka found a reliable partner in Kusal Mendis. The duo added 89 runs for the second wicket, never letting the required rate dip below four an over.
Nissanka’s knock was a lesson in building an ODI innings. He scored 78 off 98 balls, with only five boundaries, rotating strike expertly against the spinners. Mendis, however, played the aggressor’s role to perfection. His 64 off just 52 deliveries included three sixes over long‑on and a gorgeous cover drive off Akeal Hosein. When Mendis fell trying to accelerate, the score was 150/2 in the 32nd over—a perfect platform.
Charith Asalanka (22) and Janith Liyanage (37 not out off 28) provided the late fireworks. Liyanage, who impressed with a direct‑hit run‑out in the first ODI, smashed two sixes in the final three overs. West Indies pulled things back slightly at the death, thanks to Joseph’s clever slower balls and Romario Shepherd’s yorkers. Sri Lanka finished at 296/7. It felt 15 runs short of a commanding total, but the dressing room believed their spinners could defend it.
West Indies Chase: A Story of Stops and Starts
Chasing 297 under lights, West Indies needed a rapid start. They got exactly that. Brandon King and Evin Lewis tore into Sri Lanka’s new‑ball duo of Chameera and Madushanka (who played despite earlier speculation). The first five overs disappeared for 48 runs. King was particularly severe, driving through the covers and pulling with authority. But just as the crowd sensed a blowout, Sri Lanka struck through an unlikely hero.
Janith Liyanage—fielding at short cover—picked up cleanly and threw down the stumps at the non‑striker’s end with King well short. The direct hit sent the powerful opener packing for 27 off 17 balls. It was a turning point. Lewis, however, continued his assault, reaching 45 off 32 deliveries. He looked set to take the game away until Theekshana produced a beauty in the final over of the first powerplay—a carrom ball that sneaked through Lewis’s attempted cut and shattered the off‑stump. West Indies were 65/2 after 10 overs.
Hope Fights Alone as Middle‑Order Falters
Keacy Carty and Shai Hope then rebuilt with caution and class. The pair added 58 runs for the third wicket, with Hope nursing a mild groin strain. Carty played some elegant drives but fell against the run of play: Kamindu Mendis, stationed at short mid‑wicket, leaped to his right to pluck a one‑handed stunner off Hasaranga’s bowling. Replays confirmed a clean catch, and Carty walked back for 31.
Sherfane Rutherford lasted only nine balls before top‑edging a pull off Chameera. That brought Roston Chase to the crease, and together with Hope, the home side began rebuilding once more. Hope, visibly cramping, reached his 27th ODI fifty off 61 balls—a gutsy knock under pressure. But just when the partnership threatened to take control, Chameera returned for his second spell.
The pacer’s first ball was a reverse‑swinging yorker that crashed into Hope’s off‑stump. The captain stood for a moment, disappointed but applauding the quality of the delivery. His 68 off 79 balls had kept West Indies in the hunt, but his departure left the tail with too much to do.
Lower‑Order Resistance, Then Collapse
Chase found an unlikely ally in Alzarri Joseph. The pair added 47 runs for the seventh wicket, with Joseph surviving a couple of close lbw shouts. However, the required rate climbed past nine an over. Chase tried to target Wellalage but holed out to long‑on for 33. Theekshana then removed Joseph with a googly that beat the bat. The final four wickets fell for just 19 runs. West Indies were bowled out for 258 in the 48th over, falling 38 runs short.
Bowling Analysis: Sri Lanka’s Attack Fires as a Unit
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, claiming three wickets for just 42 runs across his full ten‑over quota. He strangled the scoring during the middle phase with remarkable precision. Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with two wickets for 45 runs, keeping the batters guessing with his well‑disguised googly that consistently posed a threat. But the real difference was the pace duo—Chameera (3/48) and Madushanka (1/52) used cutters and reverse swing expertly under lights. They didn’t try to bowl too fast; instead, they hit hard lengths and changed pace. That discipline frustrated West Indies’ batters, who were forced to take risks against the spinners.
Key Stats and Turning Points
Powerplay scores: WI 65/2 vs SL 41/0 – Sri Lanka’s patience with the bat and breakthroughs with the ball defined the contest.
Hope’s dismissal (68 off 79): The moment the game swung decisively.
Liyanage’s direct‑hit run‑out: A piece of fielding brilliance that halted West Indies’ early charge.
Theekshana’s carrom ball to Lewis: A contender for ball of the series.
What This Win Means for Both Teams
Sri Lanka now lead the series 2‑0 with one match left. More importantly, they have shown they can win in varied conditions—first defending 303, now 296. The middle order looks settled, and the bowling attack has multiple options. Gary Kirsten’s influence is visible in the team’s calmness under pressure. For West Indies, the concern remains their inability to build partnerships after losing quick wickets. The final ODI offers a chance to restore some pride.
Final Thoughts: A Series Won, But the Journey Continues
The 2nd ODI was not a blowout. It was a chess match of small moments—a direct hit, a carrom ball, a reverse‑swinging yorker. Sri Lanka won the key moments and deserved the victory. For neutrals, it was a thrilling advertisement for ODI cricket in the Caribbean. For Sri Lankan fans, it’s a sign of better days ahead. The third ODI promises to be a dead rubber on paper, but with both teams having plenty to prove, expect another cracker. Until then, the celebrations belong to Kusal Mendis and his resurgent Lions.