Sat Oct 26 20:20:00 UTC 2024: ## West Indies Secure Consolation Win in Rain-Hit Third ODI
**Pallekele, Sri Lanka:** West Indies secured a consolation victory in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, winning by eight wickets under the DLS method in a rain-affected encounter. The match was reduced to 23 overs per side due to persistent rain.
Evin Lewis anchored the West Indies chase with a magnificent 61-ball century (102), hitting nine fours and four sixes. He was ably supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed a quick-fire 50 off just 26 balls.
Sri Lanka, who opted to bat first, had a solid start with openers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka putting on 81 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka, who survived a dropped catch in the first over, reached his fifty before rain forced the players off the field.
The delay lasted for nearly five hours, and upon resumption, Kusal Mendis came out all guns blazing, hitting 56 off just 22 balls with nine fours and a six. Sri Lanka eventually finished on 156/3 in their 23 overs, setting a revised target of 195 for West Indies.
West Indies’ chase started off slowly, with Brandon King falling early. However, Lewis and Shai Hope steadied the ship, before Hope was dismissed in the 15th over.
Rutherford then joined Lewis, and together they turned the tide, adding 71 runs in just 36 balls. The duo put on a blistering display of power hitting, smashing boundaries at will and eventually securing victory with an over and eight wickets to spare.
This victory, while a consolation, serves as a reminder of the West Indies’ batting firepower, even when facing tough conditions.
First Piper 