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Disappointing to Come So Close & Not Get Over The Line: Holder

West Indies was already out of contention after losing four in a row following a confident start to the tournament.

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World Cup
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It was a day late and counted for little in the context of the Cricket World Cup, but there was no lack of tension as Sri Lanka fended off the West Indies by 23 runs on Monday, 1 July.

Avishka Fernando scored 104 from 103 balls to guide Sri Lanka to 338-6, its highest total of the tournament, and Lasith Malinga took two early wickets to have West Indies reeling at 22-2 in the fifth over of the chase. The veteran paceman's late wicket all but finished it off and moved him into the top three of most prolific World Cup bowlers.

West Indies, with some star power support from Rihanna on a blustery, slightly overcast day — no need for shade, or shelter from the rain — made a chase of it but ran out of time and finished 315-9.
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"That's been the World Cup for us," West Indies captain Jason Holder said. "It's disappointing, to come so close and not get over the line."

"Yeah, we've shown some fight in this entire campaign. Yeah, I'm proud of, certain individuals who've definitely put their hands up and, put their heart on the line," said the Windies skipper.

“That’s what we want. We want guys to just give there all. When you leave the cricket field, make sure you don’t have anything within your body left to be given.”
Jason Holder

Shimron Hetmyer was run out for 29 soon after and when Carlos Brathwaite (8) was unluckily run out when bowler Isuru Udana got a fingertip to Nicholas Pooran's drive and the ball deflected onto the stumps, it seemed West Indies' chase was over.

Pooran posted his first ODI century, was dropped at long-off in the next over, and was finally out caught behind when he chased Angelo Mathew's first delivery in a one-dayer since December 2017 in the 48th over.

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"Yeah, and credit to Nicholas (Pooran). I thought he played an outstanding innings today. He batted maturely. He got boundaries, knocked it around as easily as he possibly can. And obviously... a knock like what Fabian (Allen) played, is exceptional as well. Just again, unfortunate with the run out but, the young talent is there, young talent is there. It's just a matter of us to bring it together more often, and get over the line."

Rihanna's reaction when Chris Gayle got out for 35 — head back in disbelief — summed up the overall feeling of game over at 71-3.

But when Pooran (118) and Fabian Allen (51) combined in an 83-run, seventh-wicket stand, the superstar singer from Barbados was back on her feet along with the crowd.

"It was a pleasant surprise. It was great to see her here. I just want to personally thank her for coming out. I guess it's not easy for a celebrity to just come down, to Durham to watch the West Indies play. But, I'm sure the boys felt her presence, in the stands and, she came down to the dressing room as well and met quite a few of the players, and that was also refreshing."

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(With inputs from AP)

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