Kusal Mendis stars in Sri Lanka's clinical win

Kusal Mendis's return to captaincy got off to the perfect start as he starred in Sri Lanka's comfortable win in the opening ODI of the West Indies tour. Mendis smashed 72 off just 62 balls and contributions from opener Pathum Nissanka and the middle order helped Sri Lanka surpass the 300-run mark. In the run chase, West Indies fell short by 41 runs with only skipper Shai Hope going past fifty.

West Indies should have made the perfect start when Nissanka hit one straight to cover where it was dropped by Keacy Carty. Kamindu Mendis got the first boundary but didn't last long. Kusal finally got momentum after 8 balls to get off the mark, smashing one over cow corner, while Nissanka motored at the other end.

Kusal took a liking to Gudakesh Motie, smashing him for 6,4,6 in an over to send the left-arm spinner out of attack. This pushed Sri Lanka's run rate past five after 20 overs and helped Kusal reach his fifty before Nissanka. The pair kept the hosts at bay, giving Sri Lanka the ideal platform at 145/1 by halfway. Matthew Forde ended the massive stand with Kusal getting a top edge.

Nissanka departed for 79 and Pavan Rathnayake made a scratchy 24. Sri Lanka were 218/3 heading into the final 10 overs. Charith Asalanka (45) and Janith Liyanage (44*) gave them the ideal finish, helping the visitors reach 303.

The home side came out all guns blazing in the chase. John Campbell flicked the second ball for a six and Justin Greaves hammered Asitha Fernando for a six and four off successive balls as WI raced to 50/0 after 6 overs. Against the run of play, a run out broke the opening stand and brought Sri Lanka back.

Maheesh Theekshana cut short Greaves' promising innings as Sri Lanka applied the brakes. Hope and Carty steadied the ship briefly, but Carty's dismissal was another blow. Sherfane Rutherford failed to impact and was sent packing by Wanindu Hasaranga. Hope couldn't kick on after scoring a fifty, leaving WI at 167/5. Roston Chase and Motie dragged the game further but their dismissals in five deliveries was the final nail. Dushmantha Chameera added lower order scalps to finish with a four-fer as WI got bowled out in the final over.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 303/7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 79, Kusal Mendis 72; Matthew Forde 2-44) beat West Indies 262 in 49.2 overs (Shai Hope 56; Dushmantha Chameera 4-67, Maheesh Theekshana 2-26) by 41 runs