ICC World T20: Andre Fletcher takes West Indies to second win

Andre Fletcher en route to his 84 not out in their World T20 Super 10 game against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. (Photo: R. Samuel)

Andre Fletcher marked his arrival into the West Indies line-up with a match-winning 84 not out in their seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the ICC World T20 Group 1 Super 10 clash here, on Sunday.

What was tipped to be run feast at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium turned into a low-scoring affair as the West Indies bowlers struck collectively to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par 122.

Leg-spinner Samuel Badree (3/12) starred but a late fight back from Thisara Perera (40) gave something for the Lankan fans to cheer about.

In chase of the modest target, Fletcher and Andre Russell’s unbroken fourth-wicket stand steered the Windies home with 10 balls to spare.

Meanwhile, there was bad news from the West Indies camp as Chris Gayle twitched his left hamstring while fielding. According to the West Indies media manager Phillips Spooner, the destructive Gayle has been advised rest and would bat only if needed.

On a deck that is usually batting friendly, Windies skipper Darren Sammy asked the Lankans to pad up first. With Dilshan in blazing form, Lanka were off to a flyer. The veteran opener smashed Andre Russell for 11 runs of the first over.

But Windies quickie Carlos Brathwaite applied the brakes with his very first delivery to dismiss Dilshan leg-before albeit to a dubious decision by umpire Johan Cloete. Replays suggested the late in-swinger missed the stumps.

Lanka’s woes doubled up as Dinesh Chandimal ran himself out and his dismissal triggered a mini-collapse. The Windies’ spin duo of Badree and left-arm orthodox Sulieman Benn made life harder for the Lankans.

Scoreboard Sri Lanka: D. Chandimal run out 16, T. Dilshan lbw b Brathwaite 12, L. Thirimanne c Fletcher b Badree 5, C. Kapugedera st Ramdin b Badree 6, A. Mathews c Ramdin b Bravo 20, T. Siriwardana c Gayle b Badree 0, T. Perera c Russell b Bravo 40, N. Kulasekara b Russell 7, R. Herath run out 3, J. Vandersay (not out) 0, D. Chameera (not out) 0. Extras (lb7, w5, nb1) 13. Total (for 9 wkts, in 20 overs) 122. FoW: 1-20, 2-32, 3-41, 4-47, 5-47, 6-91, 7-116, 8-121, 9-121. Bowling: Russell 4-0-34-1, Badree 4-0-12-3, Benn 4-0-13-0, Brathwaite 4-0-36-1 (1nb, 2w), Bravo 4-0-20-2 (2w) West Indies: A. Fletcher (not out) 84, J. Charles b Vandersay 10, M. Samuels st Chandimal b Siriwardana 3, D. Ramdin b Siriwardana 5, A. Russell (not out) 20. Extras: (w 5) 5. Total: (for 3 wkts, in 18.2 overs) 127 FoW: 1-39, 2-54, 3-72 Bowling: Mathews 1-0-13-0, Herath 4-0-27-0, Kulasekara 2-0-17-0 (1w), Vandersay 4-1-11-1, Siriwardana 4-0-33-2, Chameera 3-0-15-0 (2w), Perera 0.2-0-11-0 (1w)