Nicholas Pooran's century went in vain as Avishka Fernando set up Sri Lanka's thrilling 23-run win over West Indies with a maiden hundred in a World Cup match on Monday.
Sent into bat, Sri Lanka's top-order fired in unison with Fernando hitting a 103-ball 104, the first century for the Island nation in this world cup. His innings was studded with nine fours and two sixes. Opener Kusal Perera too chipped in with a 51-ball 64 as Sri Lanka posted an imposing 338 for six.
In reply, Pooran blasted a 103-ball 118 laced with 11 hits to the fence and four sixes to keep West Indies in the hunt. He starred in three crucial partnership, adding 61, 54 and 83 with Jason Holder (26), Carlos Brathwaite (8) and Fabian Allen (51) respectively to take West Indies close to pulling off an incredible chase.
But Angelo Mathews dismissed Pooran in the 48th over as WI could only score 315 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs.
After this win, Sri Lanka are now placed at the sixth spot on the points table with eight points from eight matches. The 1996 champions still have one more match left, against India on 6 July.
So far, only Australia is assured of a place in the last four, with seven wins and 14 points from eight games. India and New Zealand are on 11 points and England is on the fourth spot on 10. Pakistan (9) and Bangladesh (7) are still in the hunt, but Sri Lanka (8) can't make it — even if it wins its last match against India to finish on 10 points and England loses its last game group to New Zealand.
Why?
Because the rule of the tournament states that the tiebreaker if teams finish equal on points after the league stage, is wins — and England would have more in the W column because Sri Lanka picked up two points from washouts.
Sri Lanka was trounced in its opening game by New Zealand, beat Afghanistan and then had washouts against Pakistan and Bangladesh. A loss to Australia had them on the verge of an exit until the win over England shook up the whole competition. With the loss to South Africa last Friday, Sri Lanka lost control of its tournament destiny and after England beat India, they were ruled out of the running for a semis berth.
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