Sun Oct 27 03:43:21 UTC 2024: ## Youngest West Indies ODI Debutant Leads Tourists in Series Finale

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – 17-year-old Jewel Andrew made history on Saturday, becoming the youngest player to represent the West Indies in One Day Internationals (ODIs) as the tourists took on Sri Lanka in the series finale. Andrew, who will turn 18 in December, is widely considered one of the brightest young prospects in West Indian cricket.

The final match was a dead rubber, with Sri Lanka having already secured the series with a 2-0 lead. Despite the outcome already decided, the West Indies opted to bowl first, hoping to put pressure on the Sri Lankans and end the series on a high note.

“With the rain around, we thought we will bowl first. We like to put them under pressure by getting our spinners in the game early,” West Indies captain Shai Hope explained.

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, aiming for a positive finish, set a target of 250 for his team. “If we do that our spinners will be in the game,” he said.

The series finale also saw a number of changes to both teams. Evin Lewis and Matthew Forde joined the West Indies squad, while Alick Athanaze, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh were left out. For Sri Lanka, opening batsman Pathum Nissanka returned from a quad injury, along with left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Top-order batter Nishan Madushka and spin-bowling all-rounder Dunith Wellalage were excluded from the side.

The West Indies had already suffered a 2-1 defeat in the T20 series earlier this month.

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