SL VS WI - 2nd ODI, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2020

Colombo - check| Hambantota - check| Next stop - Pallekele. Not all is lost for West Indies. They've shown promising signs in both games and if anything, the middle order needs a bit of a rethink in terms of strategy and partnership-building. Sri Lanka, though, will aim for a cleansweep come Sunday. It's a day-nighter and do remember to tune in early. Until next time, goodbye and good night from Raju Peethala, Varun Dixit, Sriram AS and our scoring-expert Vinod.

Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka skipper: Would like to thank my team mates, they put their hearts out and played. The intensity was there all throughout and that's what I want from my team. The spinners are wicket-taking bowlers and last few games they couldn't really make the impact and today they've shown what they've got. Wanindu usually plays a good supporting role, but good to see him picking up key wickets. Thisara is bowling well and batting well and that's what you look for from an all-rounder and hopefully he continues to do well. Mickey is a nice guy and its not an easy job and he is supporting us and giving us confidence. Thanks to all the fans for making this game very special. I'm expecting a full house in Pallekele.

Kieron Pollard, West Indies skipper: We started well, but Kusal and Avishka did really well and we didn't execute that well with the ball. Overall, credit to Sri Lanka and they were the better side. It's a big ground and spinners are always gonna come into play. Disappointing for us to lose in this manner and we can pinpoint on a lot of things, but overall as a team we are disappointed with how it went and hopefully come back strong in the next game.

Avishka Fernando, Player of the Match: Batted well and I'm really happy with my performance. Glad that I could contribute to team's win and we were in a bit of pressure after losing 2 wickets, but we knew we needed a partnership to get a good score and Kusal and I tried to do that. I like playing against the West Indies as I prefer pace.

Last two series wins for Sri Lanka at home: 
Vs Bangladesh in 2019 
Vs West Indies in 2015

Biggest victories for SL at Hambantota (ODIs):
210 runs v Canada 2011
165 runs v PAK 2015
161 runs v WI 2020 (Today)

Biggest victories for SL v WI in ODIs (runs):
161 runs Hambantota 2020*
113 runs Providence 2007
108 runs Nairobi 2000

Angelo Mathews: It was a brilliant win, it was a convincing victory for us. The way Kusal and Avishka batted was outstanding. I am trying to contribute in whatever way I can. The crowd were fantastic. They were right behind us and I wanna say thank you to them. The body is feeling good.

21:54 local: A resounding victory for Sri Lanka. It has been nicely set up by tons from Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis in the first innings and the bowlers, especially spinners, backed it up with terrific accuracy. Though the visitors started well with the bat, the run-out of Ambris in the 13th over opened the floodgates and it all went downhill with the arrival of spinners who strangled the middle-order with lovely mix of variations. Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three apiece and dried up the boundaries which forced a lot of errors from the Windies batters. So, the wait (of winning an ODI series in Sri Lanka) continues...

Sandakan to Fabian Allen, out Caught by Perera!! Slogs and holes out to long-on. Catching practice for Thisara Perera. Sri Lanka win by 161 runs - their biggest win against West Indies - and clinch the series 2-0 with a game to go. Fabian Allen c Perera b Sandakan 17(14) [4s-2 6s-1]

Sandakan to Fabian Allen, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Sheldon Cottrell, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Pradeep to Alzarri Joseph, out Bowled!! Lights or no lights, no change in target for Nuwan Pradeep. Aims for the base of off and pings a pinpoint yorker which sneaks under the helpless hanging blade of Alzarri Joseph. Timber!! Alzarri Joseph b Pradeep 0(3)

Pradeep to Alzarri Joseph, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Pradeep to Alzarri Joseph, no run, looks to pull the short ball and it gets big on him, rushing him for pace and beating the top-edge

Pradeep to Alzarri Joseph, no run, full on off-stump, Joseph checks his drive back to the bowler

21:45 local: The lights are back and it won't be long before we restart..

21:32 local: And just when we thought we could have an early finish, the floodlights have gone off allowing darkness to blanket Hambantota. The umpires get together to have a chat as the players wait patiently adjacent to the pitch

Alzarri Joseph, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Pradeep to Keemo Paul, out Bowled!! One too many strokes from Keemo Paul. Plays a cross-bat whack and misses the line of the ball completely. It was a change of pace delivery from Pradeep and he kept his target pretty straight, beating the bat swing and crashing into middle and off. Keemo Paul b Pradeep 21(27) [4s-3]