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BOWLED OUT

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Sri Lanka ended defending champions West Indies dream of reaching the semi finals last week with an empathic 20-run victory in their last World Cup game at the Sheik Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Young batsman Charith Asalanka (68) and Pathum Nissanka (51) toyed with the seven-man West Indies attack in raising Sri Lanka’s highest total of 189 for seven in their final Group 1 game by hitting powerful half centuries.

In reply, West Indies, who won the toss and elected to field, lost their power hitters cheaply before being restricted to 169 for eight. Shimron Hetmyer narrowed the defeat with a fighting 81 off 54 balls.

The 42-year-old Chris Gayle could only score one, Andre Russell made only nine while the world’s new No. 1 T20 bowler, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2-19), cleaned bowled Dwayne Bravo (one) and Captain Kieron Pollard for a duck as West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals in a steep chase.

Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka celebrates scoring runs during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. Associated Press/Kamran Jebreili

Two-time champions West Indies, managed a solitary win over Bangladesh — winning one and losing four.

In their last group game on Saturday they lost to Australia.

David Warner smashed 89 not out to lead the Aussies to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies — with Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle — possibly playing their last games for West Indies.

Put in to bat, the already eliminated West Indies did well to reach 157-7 while Australia replied with 161-2 in 16.2 overs.