Sri Lanka end West Indies title defence with inspired win

Sri Lanka beat West Indies in Abu Dhabi to end the defending champions’ title defence at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Sri Lanka produced an inspired performance to win their final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 and end West Indies’ hopes of defending their title.

Kieron Pollard’s side went into the game knowing that they needed a big win to give them a chance of qualifying from Group 1.

But Sri Lanka, who already knew they were out of qualification contention, put West Indies to the sword after being put in to bat, with Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka scoring outstanding half-centuries in a daunting total of 189/3.

With 190 to get and knowing that a win would only just keep them alive in the tournament, West Indies’ reply got off to an inauspicious start when Chris Gayle fell in the second over, plonking a catch to mid-off for 1 off 5.

Pooran, promoted to number three, looked fluent in his 46 off 34, and alongside Shimron Hetmyer gave West Indies a glimmer of hope.

But Pooran’s dismissal in the 12th over ultimately ended the chance of the chase, with Andre Russell, Pollard and Jason Holder all falling cheaply.

And even Hetmyer's explosive finale wasn't enough as West Indies finished on 169/8, still 21 runs short.