SL aims to dominate ODI matches in West Indies

SL aims to dominate ODI matches in West Indies

Balekili:

Sri Lanka are improving their spin attack as they look to extend their winning streak at home in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, captain Sharith Asalanka said on Saturday.

The island nation has won 10 of its 13 bilateral series this year, including eight of nine at home.

Spinners have been Sri Lanka’s trump card, helping them end a 27-year drought against top-ranked India in the ODI series in July.

“Rotation is our bread and butter and we will play as hard as we can,” Asalanka told reporters ahead of Sunday’s opening match.

“We are looking at three spin options. We have the leg-spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay, as well as Dunith Wellalage… A couple of our batsmen could move their arms for some spin as well.”

All three ODIs are being played on the slow surface at Pallekele and spin is expected to play the same role as it did in Sri Lanka’s 2-1 T20 win earlier in the tour.

“The spinners were exceptional there and I am confident they will come back strong again here,” Asalanka said.

Both teams are suffering from their failure to qualify for the Champions Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan next February.

Both will focus on climbing the world rankings to stay out of the elimination zone.

“We have to make sure we play good cricket and keep ourselves in the top half so that we don’t find ourselves scrambling to qualify again,” West Indies captain Shai Hope said.

“We’ll take what the field offers, and while it’s good to have a plan, you have to play what’s in front of you,” he said. Reuters

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