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POP star Rihanna and a century from Nicholas Pooran were two sparks of the West Indies team, but they still fell 23 runs short to lose to Sri Lanka in their penultimate game of the ICC 2019 World Cup at Chester-Le-Street in Durham, yesterday.
The mega superstar who was born in Barbados met her former physical education teacher Roddy Estwick. He is one of the coaches of the West Indies team.
While Rihanna was very vocal in her support for the regional team, they could only manage 315 for nine wickets in their 50 overs. Sri Lanka who batted first made 338 for six thanks to 104 by Avishka Fernando.
Pooran showed his worth and class with 118 off 103 balls and was supported by Fabian Allen whose 51 came off 32 balls and was run out in a mix up with Pooran.
The experienced Sri Lankan Angelo Matthews, who had not bowled a ball in eight months, told his captain that he had experience and would make up two overs at the end of the West Indies innings since the Asian side was out of options. In his first ball, he got Pooran going for big slug outside the off stump and was caught behind.
West Indies skipper Jason Holder said after the game: “We have just got to do better. We’ve let some key moments slip in this World Cup. I thought their score as on par. Fernando batted well – showed us things get easier if you stay in. Pooran as excellent too. I thought we finished our bowling well. But our fielding let us down.”
