Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 3rd ODI Match Summary

We are down to the third and final ODI of the series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. After clinching the first T20I in Dambulla, the tourists have struggled, losing four consecutive games across formats, conceding both the T20I and ODI series. As they take the field one last time on this tour, the West Indies will be desperate for a consolation win to salvage some pride. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will be eyeing a clean sweep to build momentum ahead of their upcoming series against New Zealand next month. In the rain-affected second ODI, Sri Lanka's spinners once again took control, exposing the West Indies' vulnerability to spin, a consistent problem throughout the tour. A late rescue act from Sherfane Rutherford and Gudakesh Motie added some respectability to the visitors' total, but Sri Lanka comfortably chased it down with 5.4 overs to spare. For the West Indies, underperforming key players like Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, and Shai Hope will need to step up if they are to avoid another defeat. Sherfane Rutherford, who has been the standout performer with the bat, will look to continue his excellent form. On the bowling front, Gudakesh Motie has been the most effective, while Alzarri Joseph has been solid but lacked support from others like Hayden Walsh and Jayden Seales. As for Sri Lanka, both their batting and bowling departments have clicked in unison, giving them an edge throughout the series. With the series already in the bag, Sri Lanka may look to rotate their squad to manage workloads ahead of the full-fledged white-ball series against New Zealand. Opener Pathum Nissanka, who missed the first two ODIs due to a quadriceps strain, could return if fit. Fast bowlers Mohamed Shiraz and Dilshan Madushanka, who have yet to feature in the series, could also get a look in for the final ODI, as could uncapped batting all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe. Will the hosts complete a clean sweep? Or will West Indies end the tour with a win? We shall find out.