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29 March 2024

World T20: Fletcher stars as Windies thrash Lanka without Gayle

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

Andre Fletcher insisted Sunday he was not trying to steal Chris Gayle's limelight after he powered the West Indies to a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in their World Twenty20 match in Bangalore.

The 28-year-old smashed an unbeaten 84, including five sixes and six fours, as the Windies successfully chased down Sri Lanka's paltry score of 122 for nine.

Fletcher spearheaded the attack with his 64-ball knock in the absence of explosive opener Gayle, who suffered a tweak in his left hamstring while fielding and did not bat.

A Windies team spokesman told reporters that the 36-year-old's injury was "not major" but it raises questions about how much of the remaining tournament he will now play.

"I don't think anybody in the world can take his (Gayle's) place," Fletcher said.

"I'm (just) grateful for the opportunity to bat," the man of the match added.

An unimpressed crowd repeatedly chanted "We want Gayle, We want Gayle", anxious to see the Jamaican who has played several seasons for the city's team in the glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL).

He teased the crowd by stepping out of the bunker with his bat after the third wicket fell, bringing roars from the stadium, only to walk back inside.  

Gayle smashed a scorching century last week during the West Indies' demolition of England by six wickets in their opening Group One Super 10 match.

Despite the injury, Gayle tweeted that he expected to play again in the tournament.

"Great team win tonight. The Bengaluru crowd/fans always amazing, sorry y'all didn't see me bat tonight but I will be back," he wrote.

The West Indies are one of the weakest teams in Test cricket, but they remain a force in the shortest format and are gunning for their second World T20 title after winning the trophy in 2012.

"We back ourselves to win .. (the title) we now have two wins under our belt, Fletcher said.

Johnson Charles made 10, before chopping the ball onto his stumps, while Marlon Samuels was gone for three and wicket keeper Danesh Ramdin was bowled for five. Andre Russell was not out on 20.

Defending champions Sri Lanka have been struggling for form since winning the trophy two years ago, slumping to seventh in the world rankings.

On Sunday, they posted 122 for nine after West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to field.

All-rounder Thisara Perera top scored for Sri Lanka with 40, including five fours, off 29 balls at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, while skipper Angelo Mathews chipped in with 20.

"We kept losing wickets and by the time we reassessed it was too late," Mathews said.

"We made mistakes here and there and that cost us the match."

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, the star for Sri Lanka in their win over Afghanistan last week, started in promising style, smacking a six off the second ball.

But the 39-year-old was sent packing in the third over, lbw to Carlos Braithwaite.

His opening partner Dinesh Chandimal made a quick 16 runs from 18 balls before he was sensationally run out, thanks to some quick fielding by Johnson Charles at cover.

Chandimal wanted a swift single and took off down the pitch, but was sent scampering back by Lahiru Thirimanne at the other end.

Thirimanne was gone just seven balls later for five, as the wickets tumbled thanks to solid West Indies bowling led by leg spinner Samuel Badree.

Perera and Mathews combined to steady the ship, adding 44 runs for the sixth wicket, before the captain was caught behind.

Perera was caught at the boundary in the final over by Russell.

The West Indies now play South Africa in Nagpur on Friday while Sri Lanka next meet England in New Delhi on the following day.

Unbeaten

West Indies fired by a blistering unbeaten knock of 84 from Andre Fletcher thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets.

Chasing a modest target of 123, Fletcher clubbed five sixes and six boundaries during his whirlwind innings as West Indies replied with 127-3 in 18.2 overs with Andre Russell hitting the winning six.

Fletcher filled the void of Gayle who was indisposed and could only bat after five wickets fell.

The only silver lining for Sri Lanka amid the carnage was the bowling of leg spinner Vanersay who finished with three for 12.

There is no Gayle storm as Fletcher fills the void whacking two consecutive sixes off Siriwardana. WI 94-3, 15 overs.

Fletcher completes a 37-ball fifty before Ramdin virtually yorks himself. WI 72-3, 12.5 overs.

Denesh Ramdin b Siriwardana 5 (13b)

Siriwardana strikes as Samuels gives him the charge and misses the line. WI 54-2, 8.3 overs.

Marlon Samuels st Chandimal b Siriwardana 3 (12b)

Fletcher is continuing to pummel the Sri Lankan attack hammering Vandersay for another towering six. WI 52-1, 8 overs.

Vandersay gets a breakthrough as Charles chops him onto his stumps. WI 39-1, 5.2 overs.

Jonathan Charles b Vandersay 10 (13b 1x4)

Herath is carted for a six and boundary by Fletcher. WI 23-0, 2 overs.

Fletcher cracks a boundary and slams Mathews back over his head for a straight six as Windies begin chasing 123. WI 13-0, 1 over.

Sri Lanka innings

Sri Lanka make 122-9 after being put into bat thanks to a 29-ball 40 from Thisara Perera after Badree ripped through the top order claiming three for 12.

Thisara fails to clear the long on fielder as he goes for a big one. SL 121-9, 19.5 overs.

Thisara Perera c Russell b Bravo 40 (29b 5x4 1x6)

Herath is run out by a direct hit. SL 121-8, 19.4 overs.

Rangana Herath run out 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Kulasekera tries to swing Russell only to find his stumps castled. SL 116-7, 18.5 overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara b Russell 7 (8b)

Bravo strikes as Mathews striding down and on his knees nicks a full toss which is adjudged a fair delivery. SL 91-6, 16.1 overs.

Angelo Mathews c Ramdin b Bravo 20 (32b)

Badree has finished with excellent figures of three for 12. SL 49-5, 9 overs.

Badree has Sri Lanka in all sorts of trouble with Siriwardana going for a duck. SL 47-5, 8.4 overs.

Milinda Siriwardana c Gayle b Badree 0 (3b)

Kapugedera perishes attempting to jump out and hammer Badree to the fence only to be stumped. SL 47-4, 8.1 overs.

Chamara Kapugedera st Ramdin b Badree 6 (10b 1x4)

Badree strikes as Thirimanne slices straight to the point fielder. SL 41-3, 6.1 overs.

Lahiru Thirimanne c Fletcher b Badree 5 (7b 1x4)

Thirimanna pulls Russell over the infield for a boundary on the leg side while Kapugedera cracks him through point for a sizzling boundary. SL 41-2, 6 overs.

Chandimal is run out by a superb throw from Charles looking for a single after hitting straight to cover. SL 32-2, 5 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal run out 16 (17b 1x4 1x6)

Chandimal goes across and smacks Brathwaite over midwicket for the second maximum of the innings. SL 30-1, 4 overs.

Brathwaite strikes with his first delivery as Dilshan is adjudged leg before swinging and missing. SL 20-1, 3.1 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan lbw b Brathwaite 12 (10b 1x4 1x6)

Chandimal goes down on his knees and sweeps Badree to square leg for his first boundary. SL 19-0, 2 overs.

Dilshan is on his way swinging the first ball from Russell over square leg for a six followed by clipping through midwicket for a boundary. SL 13-0, 1 over.

Toss

West Indies have won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat.

Sri Lanka: LD Chandimal, TM Dilshan, HDRL Thirimanne, CK Kapugedera, AD Mathews, TAM Siriwardana, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, JDF Vandersay, PVD Chameera, HMRKB Herath

West Indies: J Charles, CH Gayle, MN Samuels, ADS Fletcher, DJ Bravo, D Ramdin, AD Russell, DJG Sammy, CR Brathwaite, S Badree, SJ Benn

Preview

Troubled champions Sri Lanka will need to tame a rampant Chris Gayle as they face the West Indies in the first major test of their defence of cricket's Twenty20 trophy Sunday.

The Jamaican, who lit up the first World T20 in 2007, showed his powers remain undimmed when he smashed a 47-ball century to lead the West Indies to victory over England on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, winners of the last World T20 in Bangladesh two years ago, have been badly weakened since the retirements of star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Slumping to eighth in the T20 rankings, Sri Lanka are also in turmoil after changing their coach and captain in recent weeks and following a disastrous showing at the Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka were given a morale booster with victory over lowly Afghanistan in their first Super 10 outing on Thursday, when veteran opener Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed 83 off 56 balls.

But they face a much tougher test in Gayle who unleashed a succession of sixes during the West Indies' stunning six-wicket win over England.

Captain Angelo Mathews, who replaced injured veteran bowler Lasith Malinga as skipper on tournament eve, was upbeat, saying his side was capable of "doing anything" if they worked together.

"No matter who you play, you have to be positive. We aren't looking too far ahead, if we click we can do anything," he said.

Sri Lanka Saturday replaced injured paceman Lasith Malinga with 26-year-old leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay as the country moved to defend its World Twenty20 title in India.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Vandersay, who has played in four T20 matches and taken one wicket conceding 115 runs, was a "potential future sensation".

He was sent to India a day after Malinga, 32, flew back home from the T20 World Cup in India without having played a single match.  

Malinga's departure was the latest setback for the maverick bowler, having been dropped as skipper after the team's recent disastrous Asia Cup showing in Bangladesh.

Malinga presided over a dismal performance by Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup where they were beaten by little-fancied Bangladesh, and only just scraped past the United Arab Emirates.

Sri Lanka won the last World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in 2014, but the team has been badly weakened by the retirements of star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons has sounded a warning to opponents, saying he expected Gayle to bat in 15 of the 20 overs of every match at this World T20, to set the side up for victory.

"Once you bat 15 overs we are someway near to the target (either) we are setting or chasing," Simmons said.

He said the 36-year-old, who hit the format's first international century in 2007, should be placed alongside great Viv Richards on the list of destructive batsmen from the Caribbean.

The West Indies are one of the weakest teams in Test cricket but they remain a force in the shortest format, winning the T20 in 2012 and ranked second in the world.

Teams

Sri Lanka (from): Angelo Mathews (captain), Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne.  
 
West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Braithwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.