ST GEORGE’S – Narsingh Deonarine turned in a useful all-round performance to lift West Indies “A” to a series-levelling victory by 90 runs over Sri Lanka ‘“A” in their second One-Day cricket match at the National Stadium yesterday.
Deonarine scored 34 and claimed three for 25 as West Indies easily defended a total of 240 for nine from 50 overs by restricting the visitors to 150 in 52.1 overs.
West Indies’ total was set up by an opening stand of 89 in 22.3 overs between Nkrumah Bonner and in-form Lendl Simmons after the Caribbean side opted to bat first on winning the toss.
Bonner scored 64 off 97 balls, striking five fours and a six, while Simmons, who hit a century in a losing cause in the opening match on Sunday, contributed 40 off 56 balls with four fours and a six.
After three wickets fell for the addition of 27 runs, the left-handed Deonarine and local boy Andre Fletcher, who made 30, added 52 for the fourth wicket.
Sri Lanka benefited from an encouraging opening stand of 94 in 20.3 overs between Dimuth Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella before the hosts instigated a collapse that dramatically turned the course of the match.
Karunaratne made 51 off 61 balls and Dickwella weighed in with 41 off 73 balls but after the partnership was broken, Sri Lanka “A” collapsed, losing ten wickets for 56 runs.
Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller made the initial breakthrough and delivered nine tidy overs in which he took two for 23.
Deonarine sustained the pressure in the middle of the innings and pacers Jason Holder and Sheldon Cottrell grabbed two wickets apiece to apply the finishing touches.
The teams will meet in the third and final match of the series tomorrow at the same venue. (HG)
