West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI at North Sound, WI v SL, Mar 10 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's it from us at ESPNcricinfo for this match. It's been a pleasure. Join us again on Friday for the second ODI. Till then, take it easy!

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard: "They were 100 without loss and we were looking at a chase of 300. We thought we needed to up the intensity in the field. They lost a couple of wickets and it started the slide. For us in white-ball cricket Hope is the guy. He's been given a role and he gives us the foundation and others can bat around him. In one-day cricket he's been fantastic. We still had a couple of fumbles and weren't perfect. The guys are up for the fight."

SL captain Dimuth Karunaratne: "We got a nice start but but we lost a couple of wickets. In the end we were short of 30-40 runs. If me and Danushka could have batted longer it would have been a different story. 230 is not a good score on these wickets. They could just get singles and rotate the strike. Shai got a start and he batted well. We kept losing wickets in our innings."

Shai Hope is player of the match: "I just had patience and trusted my ability. I made sure I negated the threat that they threw at as. Hasaranga was the main threat and I think we played him very well. He didn't get any wickets. It feels great to hit a century. Being away from the game for so long when playing is all you know - it's just great to be back."

West Indies will be chuffed with that. At 105 for no loss, Sri Lanka seemed headed for a total i the range of 300. But then captain Kieron Pollard dismissed his opposite number with a bit of sleight of hand, and athleticism, and Sri Lanka slid dramatically from there, losing four wickets for 21 runs.

They never really recovered either. The openers had hit fifties, and only debutant Ashen Bandara managed a half century from the middle order, though no body stayed long enough with him to forge a serious partnership. They slumped to 232 all out, which always seemed at least 40 runs too short on a track that was not turning or seaming.

West Indies then never looked like they were going to mess this chase up. Hope was graceful and assured from the outset, while Lewis played an unusually measured innings. They essentially broke the back of the chase and made it easy for West Indies.

Darren Bravo also came in and ensured West Indies stayed on track. It was an extremely comfortable victory in the end. They will be pleased not to have given Hasaranga a wicket, as well.

Ashen Bandara to bowl his first