In what has now become the norm in the lean years of West Indies cricket, skipper Jason Holder found himself repeating familiar phrases as he tried to sound positive ahead of the third and final One-Day worldwide against Sri Lanka today.
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Samuels (110 not out) struck his ninth ODI century and contributed more than half of the total as West Indies posted 206 for nine after the game was reduced to 36 overs per side.
The 26-year-old pummelled a stroke-filled 83 at the R Premadasa Stadium but it proved in vain as West Indies went down by eight wickets to concede the three-match series with a game remaining.
Charles said this could have been the turning point of the contest, with the Caribbean side limited to 214 and setting Sri Lanka 225 under the Duckworth/Lewis method. The visitors would, however, hope that Bravo converts the starts into bigger knocks. Malinga was also the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers and picked up two wickets for 47 runs, troubling the batsmen with his variations during the closing overs.
Sunil Narine and Suranga Lakmal have been the standouts with the ball, taking four wickets apiece.
The hosts Sri Lanka comprehensively defeated the West Indies by 8 wickets to clinch the 3 ODI series, with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
All eyes will also be on the weather as they have been throughout the series.
The Sri Lanka T20 squad was announced sans Lahiru Thirimanne as Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Binura Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay have earned a call. The first two ODIs in Colombo were shortened due to rain, and the forecast for Thursday in Pallekele is not too promising either. If the rain stays away, Sri Lanka start as favourites, but West Indies are obviously hurting and can not be taken lightly.
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The ICC said the exception was made because “the West Indies team was incorrectly advised that he was eligible to bowl in this match”, and that West Indies had “selected the team based on this information”.
