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Rusty West Indies face upbeat Sri Lanka with series on the line

Aditya Rao · 05/06/2026 · 3 min read

Big picture – WI look to make it 1-1

A first ODI win in the West Indies since 2013, and more importantly, a winning start to Gary Kirsten’s tenure as head coach. The action now returns to the same venue for the second of three games, as the hosts seek to keep the series alive and both sides look to implement any learnings from the first game.

Form guide

West Indies: LLLLL (Last five matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WLLWL

For Kirsten and Sri Lanka, there were elements of the veteran coach seeking to come to terms with the talents at his disposal and identifying their best fit. The promotion of Kamindu Mendis to the top of the order – while not coming off on Wednesday – is one such example, while Kusal Mendis’ aggression through the middle overs showed that captaincy has not dulled his attacking instincts.

In the spotlight: Roston Chase and Dushmantha Chameera

In the opening game, Roston Chase showcased his utility, delivering a tidy ten-over spell of 2 for 47 before chipping in with a steady 33 off 46 balls during the chase. Those numbers kept the home side competitive, but in a must-win second game, West Indies will be hoping he ramps things up, particularly with the bat. Chase’s technical expertise against spin will likely prove pivotal in combating the pair of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and that anchor role will ideally allow the team’s designated boundary-hitters to play with freedom around him.

Dushmantha Chameera proved that absolute pace remains lethal, regardless of the type of surface on offer. The quick turned up once more with his now customary consistent displays of hit-the-deck bowling, as he ran through the West Indies middle-and-lower order to finish with match-winning figures of 4 for 67. His capacity to extract sharp bounce from a good length will also once more prove a challenge for the West Indian openers.

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Team news

West Indies will most probably go in with an unchanged XI.

West Indies (probable): 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Matthew Forde, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Shamar Joseph, 11 Jayden Seales

Sri Lanka will likely field an unchanged lineup. Though considering Sri Lanka’s stacked seam-bowling department, and the reverse swing on offer in the first game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Eshan Malinga brought into the XI.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamindu Mendis, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt & wk), 4 Pavan Rathnayake, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Milan Rathnayake, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Asitha Fernando/Eshan Malinga

Pitch and conditions

The surface at Sabina Park, unlike traditional slower pitches, allows batters to hit through the line if they survive the initial new-ball spell. There was also some assistance for the spinners on offer in the first game, so expect similar once more. This match is a day-night encounter, meaning that dew might be a factor in the second innings. Weather reports indicate a chance of rain in the afternoon, but clear thereafter.

Stats and trivia

Sri Lanka’s win in the opening fixture was their first-ever ODI victory against the West Indies at Sabina Park
Of active ODI batters, Shai Hope’s 663 runs are the fourth-most against Sri Lanka, behind Joe Root (1425), Shakib Al Hasan (716) and Babar Azam (700)
Maheesh Theekshana maintained an outstanding economy rate of just 2.60 in the first match

Aditya Rao

Aditya Rao is a senior cricket correspondent for Hindustan Times, known for his unflinching deep dives into the corridors of Indian cricket governance and the forgotten tiers of the domestic game. A graduate of Jamia Millia Islamia and a trained investigative journalist, Aditya brings a policy-level rigour rarely seen on the sports pages. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between the Test match purist and the systemic realities of the modern game—covering everything from Ranji Trophy structural reforms to the economics of player development in India’s hinterlands. He has broken several major stories on administrative overhauls and has profiled dozens of unsung players from India’s age‑group pathways. A recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award and a trusted voice for accountability in sport, Aditya continues to write with a belief that a robust cricketing culture depends as much on sound governance as it does on a solid cover drive.