Sri Lanka begin the first ODI of their three-match series against the West Indies on Tuesday at Sabina Park, Kingston, marking the first ODI under newly-appointed captain Kusal Mendis and head coach Gary Kirsten.
Assistant coach Ryan van Niekerk said the side is “eager to put its plans into action” against a West Indies XI led by Shai Hope under a 15-member squad named last week.
“To win. We’ve come up with a plan. We’ve come with some really good intentions and a way that we want to play our ODI cricket as a group. Putting that into place on this tour is a big thing,” van Niekerk said. He added that an early arrival in the Caribbean had helped the squad adapt to conditions and overcome the 11-hour time difference, with two training days at Sabina Park followed by a warm-up fixture.
Sri Lanka completed a dominant warm-up victory over a Jamaica Select XI on Sunday, posting 335/7 before bowling out the hosts for 108. Charith Asalanka scored 61 before retiring out, Kamindu Mendis made 65 retired out, while Janith Liyanage contributed 60. Dushmantha Chameera claimed 3 for 8 and Dunith Wellalage took 3 for 10.
Van Niekerk praised the warm-up intensity. “Sometimes warm-up games can sort of amble along, so just the intensity that we played with really stood out for us. We’ve got some good processes in place.”
The ODI series opens the white-ball half of the West Indies tour squads confirmed across all three formats. Sabina Park hosts the first of three ODIs.
Source: Newswire.
