Last-ball six by Chanderpaul ensures Windies victory
Shivnarine Chanderpaul steered West Indies to a thrilling last-ball one-wicket victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Port of Spain, Trinidad. In a nail-biting finish, the home team needed 10 for victory off the last two deliveries. The left-hander from Guyana showed extraordinary temperament and skill by first hitting a straight boundary, and then following it up with a superbly hit six off a devastated Chaminda Vaas.
After West Indies won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in, the decision looked justified as the visitors were soon reduced to 49 for 5 thanks to brilliant bowling by the West Indies pace bowlers, especially Dwayne Bravo. However, as the match seemed virtually lost for the Sri Lankans, Chamara Kapugedera and Chamara Silva launched a superb fightback and added a record 159 for the 6th wicket. While Kapugedera scored a career-best 95, Silva scored a fine 67. It was only because of their partnership that Sri Lanka could finally reach a total of 235 for 7 in their 50 overs.
For West Indies Bravo took 4 for 32, his career-best figures while Fidel Edwards gave him good support by claiming 2 for 57.
In reply, West Indies were comfortably placed on 109 for 1 before Chris Gayle fell for a well made 52. When two more wickets in the form of Ramnaresh Sarwan (35) and Marlon Samuels (0) fell with the addition of only one run, the Sri Lankans were truly back into the game. And as Dwayne Bravo was run out after scoring 36 to make the total 169 for 6, the lower-order was exposed. Chanderpaul, however, carried the team through with the help of the tail-enders to reach 236 for 9 and ensured one of the most exciting finishes in the history of ODIs.
The Sri Lankans took the field with a new-look team as part of their build-up for the next World Cup. Spinner Ajantha Mendis impressed on his debut claiming 3 for 39, but another debutant ML Udawatte was not so lucky being dismissed before opening his account. For West Indies, S J Benn made his ODI debut in the match.
Despite Chanderpaul’s heroics, Bravo was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
