ODI: Centurion Hope leads West Indies to comfortable win
SUMMARY: Sri Lanka 232 all out in 49 overs (Gunathilaka 55, Karunaratne 52, Bandara 50, Mohammed 2-12, Holder 2-39, Pollard 1-15, Allen 1-38, Joseph 1-49) vs West Indies 236-2 from 47 overs (Hope 110, Lewis 65, Bravo 37*, Mohammed 13*, Chameera 2-50)
Shai Hope struck his 10th hundred to lead West Indies to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Chasing 233, West Indies were given a rousing start of 143 in 28.2 overs by Hope and Evin Lewis. Lewis was the first to go for 65 off 90 balls, before Hope and Darren Bravo added 73 for the second wicket.
In the process, Hope, playing his first ODI since March 2020, compiled 110 off 133 balls. His last four ODI scores against Sri Lanka are 115, 51, 72 and 110.
Bravo batted to the close on 37* off 47, while Jason Mohammed made 13*. Bowling for Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera took 2-50.
Earlier, Sri Lanka slipped from 105 without loss to post a below-par total of 232 in 49 overs. Danuskha Gunathilaka topscored with 55 and fellow opener Dimuth Kuranaratne made 52, while debutant Ashen Bandara scored 50.
Bowling for West Indies, Mohammed took 2-12 and Jason Holder 2-39.
The second match is on Friday (March 12) at the same venue.
