Evelyn, Anderson steer WI Academy past Sri Lanka Emerging Players

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, (CMC):

Damel Evelyn and Kevlon Anderson scored superb half-centuries as the West Indies Academy drew first blood against Sri Lanka Emerging Players in their opening Youth One- Day International yesterday.

Evelyn hit an unbeaten 77 off 97 balls, and Anderson blasted an aggressive 58 off just 45, as the academy withstood a tough start and a flurry of late wickets to register a tense two-wicket win at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

The visitors did well to bowl out Sri Lanka for 184 in 33.4 overs after winning the toss and electing to field.

Sri Lanka were actually in a good position at 121 for three in the 19th over before suffering a middle-order collapse that saw them lose their last seven wickets for 63 runs.

Captain Nipun Dhananjaya, who top-scored with 65 off 73 balls, and Ranesh Silva, who made 21, looked to be in cruise control during a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

However, when leg spinner Zishan Motara broke the stand by trapping Silva lbw, the innings crumbled.

Kavija Gamage was bowled by Motara for 11, and pacer Raneico Smith dismissed Dhananjaya to see them slip to 141 for six before Jediah Blades wrapped up the tail to bring the innings to a swift end.

Motara was the pick of the bowlers with 3-32. Blades took 3-42 and Smith 2-25.

The academy didn’t get off to the best of starts, losing openers Johann Jeremiah and Mbeki Joseph and Shaqkere Parris cheaply to find themselves 35 for three.

Evelyn and Anderson changed the complexion of the match during a 110-run partnership for the fourth wicket that carried the academy to relative safety at 145 for three after 23 overs.

With victory in sight, off spinner Gamage grabbed four wickets in quick succession to reduce the academy to 181 for eight and set up a thrilling ending.

Evelyn ensured his side would get over the finish line, though, with his unbeaten knock containing eight boundaries proving to be too much for the Sri Lankans.

Gamage took 4-18 and Traveen Matthew 3-30.