Abu Dhabi, Nov 4: 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. For Sri Lanka, it was their first win of the Super 12 stage.
Nicholas Pooran (46) and Hetmyer batted well but wickets at regular intervals kept the West Indies always behind in the chase.
Earlier, the in-form Nissanka and Asalanka enjoyed the surface. Nissanka played some outrageous strokes en route his third half-century of the tournament while Asalanka too struck a sublime half-century. (PTI)
