Cricket

Sri Lanka clinch dramatic victory over West Indies in first ODI

Ajantha Mendis sealed a dramatic one-wicket victory for Sri Lanka over West Indies with a six in a rain-affected clash in Colombo.

The tourists posted 159 for eight from 26 overs in the first one-day international, with Sri Lanka given an adjusted target of 163 from the same number of balls.


Three wickets in the same over from Sunil Narine, playing for the first time for the Windies in more than a year, reduced Sri Lanka to 133 for seven and threatened to derail their chase.


When Lasith Malinga was the ninth man out, Sri Lanka still needed 11 runs but West Indies' lack of bowling options ultimately cost them.


An injury to Andre Russell meant he could only bowl five balls, and it fell to opening bat Johnson Charles to deliver the penultimate over - his first in international cricket.


It was a horror show from the 26-year-old, who began with a wide and then over-stepped on the penultimate ball to give Mendis a free hit.


He took full advantage, smashing it into the stands over wide long on to make it 12 runs from the over and seal victory - although Mendis only realised he had hit the winning runs when his batting partner Suranga Lakmal ran to embrace him.


Earlier, the start had been delayed by rain and the match was then interrupted with West Indies on 40 for three.


When they returned, Darren Bravo (38), Russell (41 off 23 balls) and captain Jason Holder (36 off 13) were the only Windies players to make double figures as Lakmal claimed three for 15 off his five overs.


Sri Lanka made a flying start to their run chase as Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted 59 off 32 balls - his fastest half-century in an ODI - but in the end they were grateful simply to get across the line.