Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has won the toss and elected to bowl in the first of the three-match one-day international series at Sinhalese Sports Club (SCC) grounds in Colombo on Saturday (22).
The hosts have opted for two spinners in Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga. Karunaratne though believes his seamers will get help from the wicket early on at the start of the three-match series.
“There is something for the fast bowlers in the first few overs and that is why we want to bowl,” Karunaratne said at the toss.
“We need to stick to our plans. Our batters and bowlers are in good shape.” West Indies, led by Kieron Pollard, have gone with four fast bowlers and two spinners in their starting line-up.
“We have four seamers and two spinners, a balanced attack,” said Pollard.
“It’s about finding your identity, in the last few months we’ve found our blueprint.” Pollard has led West Indies’ resurgence as an ODI team after being appointed limited-overs captain last year. The team has since swept two series against Afghanistan and Ireland and lost narrowly to India.
The second ODI will take place in Hambantota on February 26 while the final is scheduled to be held on March 1 in Kandy. After the ODI series the sides will play two Twenty20 matches.
Lineups:
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep.
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell.
-with inputs from agencies
