SL VS WI - Match 39, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

That was a good contest, wasn't it? Never mind the dead rubber status of the game, everyone loves a proper game of cricket that's fought hard. With the expectations of a semifinal spot out of their way, both Sri Lanka and West Indies played with more freedom to entertain us thoroughly. The next stop is Edgbaston again, as Bangladesh and India get ready to face off tomorrow in a crucial encounter. The former need a win to stay alive while their opponents require a victory to officially enter into the knockouts. It's going to be the same surface that was used for the England-India game, so we could have a low-scoring thriller perhaps. All that for tomorrow though. It's time to sign off for the day. This is Hari Sadanandan waving goodbye to all of you on behalf of my mates Raju Peethala, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Rishi Roy, Abhinand Raghavendran and our scorer Mukesh Gowda. Cheers!

Dimuth Karunaratne: Good win for us, gives us a lot of confidence. Players stood up at vital times and that's what I'm expecting as a captain. I think we were putting pressure on ourselves (before today's game) and weren't expressing properly. Today, we did that and the middle order batted well. Avishka was really good in his innings. We knew that they are a good six-hitting side and wanted to keep the pressure on, and increase the required rate slowly. Pooran was playing really well. (On making Mathews bowl) Thing is that we had to get those two overs done. He put his hand up and said that he'll bowl the overs. He did a fantastic job and that's what I am expecting as a captain. Don't think he'll bowl too many but if needed, certainly he may chip in with a couple of overs.

Jason Holder: Probably, a bit slow off the blocks. Sloppy on the field and gave away a few extra runs. In a format like this, these things matter. You've got to be better than that. I thought it was above-par. Was a free-scoring wicket, was a bit slow but still was a good track for strokeplay. Fernando played well early on and Pooran also played well. Just needed to spend some time in the middle and it got easier. I thought we pulled things back well at the end but our fielding gave them 30-40 runs extra. We were always backing ourselves to get across the line. Got into a really good position but then threw it away. That run out was crucial, as was Pooran's wicket. Maybe we could have taken it deeper. Definitely promising (to see talents like Pooran emerging) to see them play such fearless cricket. Just need to win (the final game) and end on a high.

Harsha Bhogle: Anyone else feel like raising a huge cheer for the mighty Lasith Malinga. Still carrying the Sri Lankan attack. Awesome.

Avishka Fernando | Man of the Match: When I went in to bat, I am happy I did what was required of me. I am happy that the hundred was in a winning effort. They bowled really well to us. I am really happy that I got these opportunities and I have made use of them, and I will use them to take my game forward and developing my game for my country and my team. (Translated by Kumar Sangakkara from Sinhalese)

19:02 Local Time, 18:02 GMT, 23:32 IST: After the timid finish yesterday at Edgbaston, we certainly have had one heck of a contest here at Chester-le-Street. 338 was always a stiff target on this slightly two-paced surface and at 84/4 in the 18th over, West Indies' innings was going nowhere. That's when the ever impressive Pooran started to kickstart the resurgence, initially with a partnership with Holder before Allen produced a blistering fifty to turn the tables a fraction. With the left-arm spinner giving company to Pooran, West Indies were looking favorites but as it happened many-a-time in this tournament, a brain fade moment destroyed things. Allen was run out and while Pooran took it deep, he was removed by Mathews who made his first over in 18 months a special one. West Indies would rue some really basic errors that refuse to let go of them. Malinga and de Silva were good for Sri Lanka whose bowlers wilted under pressure a bit, with the fielding also going downhill over the final hour. In the end, they did enough to get over the line.

Mohit: "West indies have themselves to blame for this . They could have won this but those 3 run-outs are what they'll be kicking themselves for, especially the Allen one."

Mathews to Cottrell, no run, SL prevail in this well-fought contest! Slower ball outside off, Cottrell punches off the back foot but picks out extra cover

Harsha Bhogle: Got to love the West Indies. Even when the target is seemingly beyond reach, they keep going for it. At the moment, they are like a guerrilla force with only a few weapons. They can win a battle here and there but don't have enough to win a war. But they keep at it.

Mathews to Gabriel, 1 run, on that good length once again, Gabriel is heaving furiously but isn't able to middle them. Can't fault him. Not his job. Gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket and they take a quick single

Mathews to Cottrell, 1 run, slot ball but Cottrell is cramped for room as he swings at this one. Doesn't connect that well, well short of wide long-on

Mathews to Gabriel, 1 run, charges down the track for the pull but only gets an under edge down to fine leg

Mathews to Gabriel, no run, another play and a miss! Takes pace off completely and keeps it outside off, Gabriel cannot get bat on it

Mathews to Gabriel, no run, very full and follows Gabriel who was backing away for the big shot. Can't connect

In case you're still interested, 27 needed off the final over. Two tailenders at the crease means that even someone like Mathews can be cool.

Malinga to Gabriel, 1 run, another yorker, relentless from Malinga and it's jammed out down to long-on. Just a single

Malinga to Gabriel, no run, has a big hoick but connects thin air! Was the perfect yorker but just a bit outside leg and that saves Gabriel who was never going to connect this one. Not the way he was intending to

Malinga to Gabriel, no run, nearly repeats the feat, Malinga! Very full and tailing into Gabriel who somehow gets a faint inside edge onto the pad

Shannon Gabriel, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Malinga to Thomas, out Lbw!! good review by the Lankans and they are one wicket away now. That inimitable inswinging yorker from Malinga and it was too hot to handle for a tailender like Thomas. He sat in the crease, trying to keep it out but got rapped on the back pad. Looked out in real time itself but the umpire perhaps felt that there was an inside edge. SL challenged the call and once UltraEdge confirmed no bat, the result was a foregone conclusion. Hitting leg stump on Hawkeye. Down to the last wicket now. Thomas lbw b Malinga 1(6)

Malinga to Thomas, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

SL review for LBW! Unless there is an inside edge, Thomas could be gone here I reckon. Let's see. Fair delivery. Impact is in front of leg stump. No bat it seems. UltraEdge confirms the same. Okay, what does HawkEye have to show? Three Reds it is!

Malinga to Thomas, no run, goes for the yorker but ends up as a low full toss, Thomas swings for the ocean but doesn't connect. Whizzes past the off pole