Defending champions West Indies were eliminated from the semi-final race in the T20 World Cup after a 20-run loss to Sri Lanka here on Thursday as their ageing stars failed to recreate the magic of the past. Going into the game with two losses in three games, the West Indies were always up against it and Sri Lanka out-batted them by amassing 189 for three on a good batting surface.
Pathum Nissanka (51 off 41) and Charith Asalanka (68 off 41) struck sublime half-centuries to give Sri Lanka the upper-hand. The West Indies could only reach 169 for eight despite Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 81 off 54 balls.
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga once again starred with with the ball taking two wickets for 19 runs in four overs.
The West Indies, who have won two of the last three world titles, are now mathematically out of the competition with two points from four games. Their last game is against Australia on Saturday.
Earlier, Sri Lanka batters played with freedom and flair to set up a daunting target which prove to be too steep for West Indies, who could never recover from a poor start to the run chase.
For Sri Lanka, it was their first win of the Super 12 stage and they go home offering hopes for a bright future.
Sri Lanka batters played with freedom and flair to set up a daunting 190-run target for the West Indies in the T20 World Cup here on Thursday.
The pitches in Abu Dhabi have proved to be the best across the three venues and in-form Pathum Nissanka (51 off 41) and Charith Asalanka (68 off 41) enjoyed batting on the surface, taking Sri Lanka to 189 for three with a 91-run stand.
Nissanka played some outrageous strokes en route his third half-century of the tournament. If the switch hit was not bold enough, the opener walked way across the off stump to whip Ravi Rampaul towards backward square leg for a boundary.
Asalanka too struck a sublime half-century and one of the highlights of his innings was a straight slog sweep off Dwayne Bravo for a six.
While Sri Lanka are already out of the tournament, the West Indies need to win tonight to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive. The defending champions are also dependant on other teams for their passage into the semi-final.
With nothing to lose, Sri Lankan batters played to their promising potential and made the West Indies attack look pedestrian.
They also displayed that the future of Sri Lankan batting is in capable hands and with more experience at the highest level, they will only get better.
Sri Lanka made 48 for one in the Powerplay with the loss of Kusal Perera, who played well for his 29 off 21 balls. Andre Russell took a brilliant catch to dismiss him.
Nissanka and Asalanka then got together and with their free flowing strokeplay, put the West Indies attack under tremendous pressure.
After Nissanka's dismissal, Asalanka went ballistic. In the 18th over, he slog swept Bravo for a straight six before smoking one over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Skipper Dasun Shanka also chipped in with an unbeaten 25 off 14 balls in the death overs.
Scoreboard:
West Indies innings: Chris Gaylec W Hasaranga b B Fernando 1 Evin Lewisb B Fernando 8 Nicholas Pooran c Dananjaya b Chameera 46 Roston Chase c B Rajapaksa b C Karunaratne 9 Shimron Hetmyer not out 81 Andre Russellc and b C Karunaratne 2 Kieron Pollard b W Hasaranga 0 Jason Holder C Karunaratne b Shanaka 8 Dwayne Bravo b W Hasaranga 0 Akeal Hosein not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 7, nb 1) 11 Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 169
Fall of Wickets 1-1, 10-2, 47-3, 77-4, 94-5, 107-6, 117-7, 131-8 Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-21-0, Binura Fernando 2-0-24-2, Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-41-1, Chamika Karunaratne 4-0-43-2, Dasun Shanaka 2-0-18-1, Wanindu Hasaranga 4-0-19-2.
Sri Lanka Pathum Nissanka c Hetmyer b DJ Bravo 51 Kusal Perera c&b Russell 29 Charith Asalanka c Hetmyer b Russell 68 Dasun Shanaka not out 25 Chamika Karunaratne not out 3 Extras (lb-4, w-9) 13 Total (For 3 wkts, 20 Overs) 189 Fall of Wickets: 1-42, 2-133, 3-179 Bowling: Roston Chase 1-0-6-0, Jason Holder 4-0-37-0, Ravi Rampaul 4-0-37-0, Andre Russell 4-0-33-2, Akeal Hosein 2-0-22-0, Dwayne Bravo 4-0-42-1, Kieron Pollard 1-0-8-0.
