SL vs WI, ICC World Cup 2019: Fernando's maiden ODI ton propels Sri Lanka to mammoth 338-run total

Sri Lanka registered their highest ever total in the 2019 ICC World Cup on the back of a brilliant ton by middle order batsman  Avishka Fernando.

Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 338-run total against the West Indies in the ICC World Cup clash being played at the Riverside County Ground in Chester-le-Street. The Islanders registered their highest ever total in the 2019 ICC World Cup on the back of a brilliant ton by middle order batsman  Avishka Fernando. The Lankans got off to a solid start with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and opener Kusal Perera providing the opening salvo in the powerplays. Against the run of play, Holder struck to remove  skipper Karunaratne and broke the Windies resistance. Perera continued with his aggressive stroke play and stitched handy partnerships with Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis to lay a solid platform for the Lankans. With Perera getting run-out, Fernando took charge of the innings and greeted the Lankan fans with some spectacular stroke-play.

What a knock from this youngster! #SLvWI | #LionsRoar pic.twitter.com/058z71LxjO

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 1, 2019

Fernando forged some quick-fire partnerships with Kusal Mendis and Angelo Matthews to keep the Lankan scoreboard ticking. Mendis was sent back to the pavilion by Fabien Allen who took a stunning catch off his owl bowling. Fernando continued to blossom at one end and eventually brought up his maiden ODI ton which also propelled the Lankans to their highest total in the ongoing World Cup. Jason Holder was the most successful Windies bowler picking up two wickets. Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Fabian Allen chipped in with one wicket each.