COLOMBO, Feb 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won
the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening one-day international
against the West Indies in Colombo on Saturday.
The hosts have opted for two spinners in Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu
Hasaranga. Karunaratne though believes his seamers will get help from the
wicket early on at the start of the three-match series.
“There is something for the fast bowlers in the first few overs and that is
why we want to bowl,” Karunaratne said at the toss.
“We need to stick to our plans. Our batters and bowlers are in good shape.”
West Indies, led by Kieron Pollard, have gone with four fast bowlers and
two spinners in their starting line-up.
“We have four seamers and two spinners, a balanced attack,” said Pollard.
“It’s about finding your identity, in the last few months we’ve found our
blueprint.”
Pollard has led West Indies’ resurgence as an ODI team after being
appointed limited-overs captain last year. The team has since swept two
series against Afghanistan and Ireland and lost narrowly to India.
Teams
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Kusal
Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Wanindu
Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (capt), Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo,
Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Keemo Paul,
Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell
Umpires: Paul Wilson (AUS), Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)