West Indies Masters got here up with a medical all-round present, using a half century from Denesh Ramdin and an equally efficient knock from Brian Lara, earlier than Tino Finest’s four-wicket burst helped the Caribbean outfit register a six-run win over Sri Lanka Masters within the second semifinal of the Worldwide Masters League (IML) 2025, and set their date with the Sachin Tendulkar-led India Masters in Sunday’s title conflict on the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Worldwide Stadium in Raipur.
Lara rolled again the years, main his aspect’s fightback with a stroke-filled 41 in opposition to a disciplined Sri Lanka Masters assault earlier than Denesh Ramdin supplied the late flourish with an explosive unbeaten 50 to propel the West Indies Masters to 179/5. In reply, Sri Lanka Masters might by no means recuperate from the early jolts earlier than Tino Finest got here up with an incisive spell of tempo bowling, taking 4 wickets to ultimately prohibit the Islanders to 173/9.
Put in to bat, West Indies Masters have been rocked early with the in-form Dwayne Smith falling cheaply. However William Perkins (24) and Lendl Simmons (17) steadied the innings, weathering the powerplay storm with a gritty 43-run partnership. Simply as they appeared to settle, Sri Lanka Masters struck twice in fast succession, tightening their grip and leaving the Caribbean aspect struggling at 48/3.
That introduced the West Indies nice into the center, and even at 55, his footwork remained as nimble as ever, his strokes as elegant as they have been in his prime. As Lara took guard along with his trademark flourish, the trendy southpaw took it upon himself to anchor the innings. Partnering with Chadwick Walton, Lara stitched collectively an important 60-run stand, guiding his staff previous the 100-run mark.
Walton, enjoying the aggressor, took the combat to the Sri Lankan bowlers, hammering a brisk 20-ball 31, earlier than Asela Gunaratne lower brief his counterattack, dealing the West Indies Masters one other setback. With a remaining berth at stake and the competition delicately poised, Lara’s presence within the center signalled that the West Indies Masters have been removed from accomplished.
Ramdin marauds Lankans with clear strikes
The enduring left-hander held fort, threading the gaps, enjoying the sector and holding the scoreboard ticking till he retired after going through 33 deliveries, and slamming 4 boundaries and a six. On the different finish, wicketkeeper-batter Denesh Ramdin supplied the proper foil, earlier than taking the assault to the opposition with 4 fours and three mammoth sixes for a fast hearth 22-ball 50, guaranteeing that the West Indies Masters inched nearer to the formidable complete.
Sri Lanka Masters’ chase by no means fairly took off as wickets tumbled at common intervals, placing them on the again foot early. Asela Gunaratne was the one batter to rise to the event, with a stellar 66 off 42 balls, comprising seven fours and a six, however his valiant effort went in useless in opposition to a disciplined West Indies Masters bowling assault.
The West Indies Masters wasted no time in making inroads, placing an enormous blow contained in the powerplay with the prized wicket of skipper Kumar Sangakkara (17). Simply as Sri Lanka Masters regarded to rebuild, Tino Finest produced a fiery spell, rattling the Islanders with twin strikes within the house of three deliveries, eradicating Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne to go away them reeling at 57/3.
Gunaratne’s under-pressure knock not sufficient
With the strain mounting, Gunaratne stood tall, raging a lone battle with a 32-ball fifty earlier than Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith additional compounded Sri Lanka’s woes, dismissing Seekkuge Prasanna (9) and Chaturanga de Silva (1), respectively. Finest then returned for a second spell, making an instantaneous affect by sending Jeevan Mendis again to the dugout, lowering the Islanders to a precarious 97/6 with greater than six overs nonetheless to play.
With Gunaratne nonetheless within the center and Isuru Udana utilizing the lengthy deal with to good impact for a 10-ball 21, Sri Lanka Masters’ hopes raised with the pair placing on a significant 39-run partnership till Smith obtained the higher of the latter to douse their aspirations. The equation was introduced right down to Sri Lanka Masters needing 15 off the ultimate over, and Gunaratne smoked Lendl Simmons for a six off the primary ball, earlier than the bowler pulled issues again brilliantly by dismissing Gunaratne off the ultimate ball.
Temporary Scores
West Indies Masters 179/5 (Denesh Ramdin 50 not out, Brian Lara 41, Chadwick Walton 31; Asela Gunaratne 1/14, Jeevan Mendis 1/26) beat Sri Lanka Masters 173/9 (Asela Gunaratne 66, Upul Tharanga 30; Tino Finest 4/27, Dwayne Smith 2/37) by 6 runs.
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