T20 World Cup, West Indies vs Sri Lanka as it happened: Shanaka and Co knock out defending champs

Here’s how the Group 1 equation looks after Sri Lanka’s win.

Three teams in Group 1 out of semifinal contention as West Indies join Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Still, three teams with a chance to finish on 8 points each – England, South Africa and Australia. 

ALSO READ – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Results, schedule and points tables for Super 12 stage

Charith Asalanka is the Player of the Match for his terrific knock of 68 (off 41) coming in at No 3. He set the tone for the big score and the bowlers and fielding unit did the rest.

Some reactions to Sri Lanka’s encouraging win

SRI LANKA WIN! Defending champions West Indies are officially knocked out of the semi-final race as Shanaka and Co beat them by 20 runs.

Shimron Hetmyer was the sole saving grace for Windies, staying unbeaten on 81 off 54. But other than him, it was a night to forget for the big-hitting batting lineup.

West Indies 156/8 after 19 overs (Target 190)
0 Wide 6 6 4 0 1. A BIG over for West Indies... 18 runs off it but it is too little, too late coming in the 19th over. Hetmyer moves to 68 off 48, his highest score in T20Is. Need 34 off the final 6 balls... that should be it for the defending champions then.

FIFTY for Shimron Hetmyer! West Indies 138/8 after 18 overs (Target 190):
The only bright spot for Windies in this innings has been Hetmyer who brings up his half-century (50 off 39). P.S. Look, an over with no wicket in it!

WICKET! Dwayne Bravo is out on 2 off 3. West Indies 131/8 after 1t overs (Target 190):
Bravo is BOWLED as a Windies wicket fall for the fourth straight over. Hasaranga finishes his spell with 2/19, and it’s safe to say Lanka’s ploy to hold him back has worked... as has West Indies inability to clear the field.

WICKET! Jason Holder is out on 8 off 5. West Indies 123/7 after 16 overs (Target 190):
A wicket for the third straight over as Holder holes out a full toss and Karunaratne takes a superb low catch in the deep. He had smacked a six on the first ball of the Shanaka over. Umpires check upstairs and it’s ruled a fair catch. But the West Indian is unhappy that a no-ball for height is not called. 14 runs of the over, with wides peppered in.

WICKET! Kieron Pollard is out on 0 off 1. West Indies 110/6 after 15 overs (Target 190):
A wicket on the first ball for the second straight over and captain Kieron Pollard is out for a golden duck. Wanindu Hasaranga has him bowled off a wrong ‘un.

West Indies in deep trouble here, needing 80 runs in 30 balls. Jason Holder is the new bat in while Shimron Hetmyer is set on 37 off 30.

WICKET! Andre Russell is out on 2 off 4. West Indies 107/5 after 14 overs (Target 190):
Karunaratne comes back and strikes on the first ball, a smartly-executed short ball gets him the caught & bowled. Another early exit for DreRuss and the bowler points to his head and heart in celebration... he had this dismissal planned.
Meanwhile, Hetmyer is taking things in his own hand, hitting three boundaries to make it 13 runs off the over after the first-ball wicket. Pollard is the new bat in.

WICKET! Nicholas Pooran is out on 46 off 34. West Indies 89/4 after 12 overs (Target 190):
The set batter departs just short of a fifty, holing it out on the first ball of Dushmantha Chameera’s over. On the second, Hetmyer smacks a six and follows with a four a ball later. A good over for Windies with 12 coming off it, after the wicket. DreRuss is the new bat in.

West Indies 75/3 after 10 overs (Target 190):
Wanindu Hasaranga comes into the attack, as late as the 11th over of the chase. A strategic move by Sri Lanka, will it pay off? 5 runs of his first over.

At the halfway mark, West Indies are in a spot of bother needing 118 runs in 60 balls. Pooran (44 off 30) is the set batter and they have a deep batting line-up, but this could well be a mountain too high even for the big-hitting might of the defending champs. Remember, a loss knocks them out. But also remember, Windies can bring a whole different breed of batting in T20s.

West Indies 72/3 after 10 overs (Target 190):
Pooran loosens the shackles a little, finally getting a boundary and making it 9 runs off Theekshana’s final over... A spell of 0/21 in his 4 overs, economical but another wicket-less outing for him.

West Indies 63/3 after 9 overs (Target 190):
Another good over from the Sri Lanka perspective as Chamika Karunaratne gives away only 4 runs.

West Indies 59/3 after 8 overs (Target 190):
Maheesh Theekshana is back into the attack and almost gets a wicket. But it’s umpire’s call on review and Shimron Hetmyer survives what could have been a close call on the last ball of the over. Just 3 runs though as the asking rate mounts even for a team that bats deep.

West Indies 56/3 after 7 overs (Target 190):
Dasun Shanaka brings himself into the attack and bowls a very economical over, giving away just 4 singles. The asking rate is over 10 now.

WICKET! Roston Chase is out on 9 off 8. West Indies 48/3 after 6 overs (Target 190):
Sri Lanka strike for the third time in the Powerplay! Bhanuka Rajapaksa takes a stunning, low-dive catch inside the ring and Chamika Karunaratne gets a wicket on his third ball. Nine runs off the final over of Powerplay but the defending champions are in trouble.

West Indies 43/2 after 5 overs (Target 190): The Pooran show is underway. A couple of boundaries in that Chameera over. The second of them beautifully lofted over the infield on offside. He is so good to watch in full flow!

West Indies 34/2 after 4 overs (Target 190): And Pooran makes Sri Lanka pay right away. That dropped catch went for four and then he plays the most elegant lofted on drive for six. Fernando’s 2nd over is a costly one.

Pooran has another life! Theekshana again, this time fielding at short fine. Boy oh boy, Sri Lanka might regret these drops.

West Indies 19/2 after 3 overs (Target 190): As the talk is about end of an era in West Indies that seems to be imminent, can Pooran play a knock to lift the next gen? He has a life in that over as Theekshana put down a return catch, but played a superb shot for four too.

WICKET! West Indies 10/2 after 1.6 overs (Target 190): FOUR, FOUR, OUT! After looking to take the attack to Fernando, Lewis chops one on to the stumps. Harmless delivery, hurt WI big time. Two wickets in the over for the left arm pacer.

WICKET! West Indies 1/1 after 1.2 overs (Target 190): Binura Fernando strikes in the 2nd over of the innings and it is the end of Chris Gayle’s stay in the middle. Length ball, Gayle gives room and lofts one in the air, doesn’t clear mid off. A Gayle in any sort of rhythm would have put it in the stands.

West Indies 1/0 after 1 over: No surprise to see Theekshana first up with Gayle in the middle. Just a single in the first over.

Here we go. Can the defending champions keep themselves in the hunt just about?

Opening the batting will be Evin Lewis and, perhaps for one of the last couple of times in WI colours, Chris Gayle.

Target for West Indies: 190

Forget improving their NRR, it would seem West Indies have an uphill task just to stay afloat tonight. A defeat knocks the defending champions out.

Sri Lanka finish their innings on 189/3, with Charith Asalanka playing the starring role, Pathum Nissanka being the anchor and Dasun Shanaka providing a late cameo.
Can defending champions West Indies, whose hopes of reaching the semis hang by a thread chase it down?

WICKET! Charith Asalanka is out on 68 off 41. Sri Lanka 180/3 after 19 overs.
Charith Asalanka’s superb knock comes to an end in the penultimate over... but not before he carves a final boundary for another big over. He top edges Russell straight to the fielder but he’s done the job for his team.

Sri Lanka 172/2 after 18 overs.
That was a looong over from Bravo – 3 straight wide balls.
That was a BIG over for Sri Lanka – 17 runs off it.

Sri Lanka 153/2 after 18 overs.
Dasun Shanaka getting into the act early, clobbers a flat Six off Jason Holder to make it another big over for Sri Lanka. The 150 comes up in the 17th over, as the last ball is edged to the boundary as the keeper fails to stop it.

FIFTY for Charith Asalanka! Sri Lanka 136/2 after 16 overs.
Another fine knock from a young Sri Lankan as he brings up his half-century in just 33 balls. His second in T20Is.

WICKET! Pathum Nissanka is out on 51 off 41. Sri Lanka 136/2 after 16 overs.
DJ Bravo gets the breakthrough, as the batter goes for the big shot on the longer boundary and plays it straight to the fielder. The opener walks back to applause from his team after what has been a fine batting performance. Captain Shanaka has come out at No 4.

FIFTY for Pathum Nissanka! Sri Lanka 132/1 after 15 overs:
A well-crafted half-century (51 off 40) from the Sri Lankan opener, his third in T20Is.
And another excellent over for Sri Lanka, with 12 runs off Rampaul.

Sri Lanka 120/1 after 14 overs:
Kieron Pollard brings himself into the attack in the hope of a breakthrough but the Lankan stand is going strong. 8 runs off the over.

Much praise coming in for Sri Lanka’s new generation of batters. Remember, the 2014 champions had to qualify for the Super 12 stage after not making a direct cut.

Sri Lanka 112/1 after 13 overs:
Another good over for Sri Lanka, with 11 runs coming off Andre Russell. A boundary apiece for Nissanka and Asalanka.

Sri Lanka 101/1 after 12 overs:
The 100 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 12th over, along with the 50-run stand between Pathum Nissanka & Charith Asalanka (59 off 40). This is turning out to be a very good stand and West Indies have no answer to it as of now.

Sri Lanka 91/1 after 11 overs:
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein is back into the attack after being removed post one expensive over. Five singles and a boundary off the final ball from Nissanka makes it another good over for Lanka.

Charith Asalanka is on 24 off just 15 and the onus will be on his to make the second half of the innings a big one. The partnership with Pathum Nissanka is worth 40 now.

Sri Lanka 82/1 after 10 overs:
At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka are well placed for a good score. Holder comes back into the attack and this time bowls a frugal over giving away just 5 runs. But no West Indies bowler has looked particularly threatening so far.

Sri Lanka 77/1 after 9 overs:
Dwayne Bravo comes into the attack and goes for 10 runs, including a boundary from Asalanka. The runs are flowing are for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka 67/1 after 8 overs:
Another good over from DreRuss, just 6 runs off it.

Sri Lanka 61/1 after 7 overs:
1Spin comes into the attack with Akeal Hosein, who goes for 13 runs as both batters get a late-cut boundary apiece. The 50 comes up for Sri Lanka in the seventh over.

WICKET! Kusal Perera is 29 off 21. Sri Lanka 48/1 after 6 overs:
Andre Russel comes into the attack and gets the breakthrough. Perera falls in the final over of Powerplay, offering a simple return catch to the bowler who pouches it mid-run. New batter Charith Asalanka gets a boundary off the final over to make it a good Powerplay for Sri Lanka nonetheless.

Sri Lanka 42/0 after 5 overs:
A very good penultimate Powerplay over for Sri Lanka. The first six of the match comes from Perera, off the first ball of Rampaul’s over which goes for 13.

Sri Lanka 29/0 after 4 overs:
A boundary on the final ball of the Holder over again, this time Nissanka getting one, making it another 8-run over.

Sri Lanka 21/0 after 3 overs:
Ravi Rampaul bowls the third over and gives away 7 runs but no boundary.

Sri Lanka 14/0 after 2 overs:
Jason Holder to share the new ball from the other end. A very good fielding effort from Lewis saves a certain boundary on the fourth ball and gets a round of applause from his team. But Perera gets the boundary on the final ball to make it an 8-run over.

Sri Lanka 6/0 after 1 over:
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera opening, Roston Chase with the new ball. Perera gets off the mark with a boundary and both batters get a single.

National anthem and song done, the teams have taken the knee. Let the cricket begin!

In case you are wondering what the semi-final calculations look like for the Group 1...

TEAM CHANGES:
West Indies are fielding an unchanged XI while Sri Lanka have made one change, with Binura Fernando replacing Lahiru Kumara.

PLAYING XIs:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (w), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul

TOSS TIME: West Indies have won the toss and Pollard has chosen to bowl first. Of course.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the ICC Men’ s T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 Group 1 match between West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Holders West Indies are all but out of the semi-final race but will look to keep alive their slim hopes of defending the trophy as they play their penultimate Group 1 clash. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s semi-final hopes may be over but they will look to end things on a positive note.