West Indies began their campaign in the tournament with an easy six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Chris Gayle’s 100-ball 109, which included nine fours and seven sixes while chasing a 209-run target.
On the other hand, India are on a roll after their Champions Trophy triumph and would aim to continue the unbeaten run when they take on the hosts, who would be eyeing revenge after their eight-wicket defeat in a league match of the eight-nation tournament.
Bravo was all praise for man of the match Gayle for his first one-day international ton in almost a year, which paved the way for his team’s comfortable victory and hailed him as the best batsman in the world.
“Chris is the best batter in the world and is our best player, and we are always happy to see him getting runs,” he said.
“We know it has been a while since Gayle has made a century, he has been getting starts but when he gets a start on a wicket like this he has to cash in,” Bravo said. Bravo said Gayle’s good form at the start of the tournament augurs well for the team as well as the West Indies cricket.
“He has eased off the pressure now. I know that at the back of his mind he felt that he wasn’t scoring big for us and he knows how important he is as a player for us. I am very happy that he scored another hundred and batted deep into the innings and I know that once Chris is in that kind of form, it is good for us as a team and good for the West Indies cricket,” he said.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Ramdin b DJ Bravo 25, M. Jayawardene c Ramdin b Narine 52, K. Sangakkara c Pollard b Narine 17, D. Chandimal c DJ Bravo b Samuels 21, A. Mathews (not out) 55, L. Thirimanne c Charles b Rampaul 6, N. Kulasekara c Pollard b Rampaul 2, J. Mendis c Samuels b Narine 5, R. Herath c Sammy b Rampaul 4, L. Malinga lbw Narine 8, A. Mendis c Charles b DJ Bravo 2. Extras (b5, lb2, w4) 11. Total (in 48.3 overs) 208.
FoW: 1-62, 2-85, 3-104, 4-140, 5-151, 6-159, 7-176, 8-190, 9-205.
Bowling: Roach 7-1-41-0, Rampaul 10-0-38-3, Sammy 10-0-34-0, DJ Bravo 7.3-0-37-2, Narine 10-0-40-4, Samuels 4-1-11-1.
West Indies: C. Gayle c Chandimal b A. Mendis 109, J. Charles c Jayawardene b Herath 29, D.M. Bravo (run out) 27, M. Samuels (not out)15, K. Pollard lbw Kulasekara 0, D.J. Bravo (not out) 8. Extras (b4, lb7, w10) 21. Total (for 4 wkts, in 37.5 overs) 209.
FoW: 1-115, 2-181, 3-190, 4-193.
Bowling: Malinga 7-0-34-0, Kulasekara 8-1-39-1, A. Mendis 10-0-53-1, Mathews 5-0-28-0, Herath 6-0-37-1, J. Mendis 1.5-1-7-0.