Rain wrecked the second One Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Sabina Park in Kingston on Saturday. Not a single ball was bowled. The match was officially called off around 6:30 pm local time after persistent showers gave officials no alternative. Sri Lanka hold their 1-0 lead in the three-match series going into the final ODI on Monday.
The only activity of the day was the toss. West Indies captain Shai Hope won it and opted to field first. Rain had already pushed the toss back by 30 minutes, and with forecasts pointing to further interruptions, Hope’s decision to bowl made sense. It did not matter. The rain never stopped long enough for play to begin.
Only a handful of fans stayed until the abandonment was confirmed. Most had left well before the call was made.
West Indies Can Still Level the Series but Cannot Win It
The washout means Sri Lanka maintain their 1-0 lead, and while West Indies can no longer win the series, they still have a chance to level it in the third and final ODI on Monday at the same venue.
The result is a blow for the Caribbean side, who are chasing valuable ICC ODI ranking points. Every match counts for West Indies, with qualification for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup depending on their ranking position by March next year.
The series decider on Monday now carries added weight. West Indies need a win simply to avoid a series loss on home soil. For Sri Lanka, a draw or a win would confirm a successful tour of the Caribbean in ODI cricket.
Shai Hope Marks 150th ODI Despite Washout
Despite no cricket being played, Saturday still had one notable moment. Shai Hope was presented with a commemorative jersey ahead of his 150th ODI appearance for West Indies. It was a milestone that deserved a proper match. The rain denied him that.
Both sides had named changes to their squads before the weather took over. West Indies brought in Amir Jangoo to replace the injured Matthew Forde, while Sri Lanka handed a debut opportunity to Eshan Malinga in place of Asitha Fernando. Neither player got to take the field.
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Sri Lanka Carry Confidence After Strong First ODI Performance
Sri Lanka arrived at Sabina Park in solid form. In the series opener, the visitors posted 303/7, powered by half-centuries from captain Kusal Mendis, who scored 72 off 62 deliveries, and Pathum Nissanka, who made 79 from 103 balls.
In reply, West Indies were dismissed for 262, with Dushmantha Chameera taking four wickets to help seal Sri Lanka’s 41-run victory. That win also marked a significant moment for Gary Kirsten, the former South Africa batting coach who recently took charge of Sri Lanka. It was his first win as Sri Lanka head coach and the tourists’ first ODI victory in the Caribbean in 13 years.
The third ODI on Monday is now a straight shootout. West Indies need to win to avoid losing the series at home. Sri Lanka, confident and with momentum on their side, will be looking to close out the tour with another strong performance. After Monday’s ODI, the two sides will also play three T20 internationals and two Test matches.
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