Synopsis
On March 14, the West Indies Masters clinched a thrilling six-run victory over Sri Lanka Masters in the IML 2025 semifinal, setting up a final showdown with India Masters. Denesh Ramdin's explosive half-century and Tino Best's four wickets were pivotal in their success at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.Key Takeaways
- West Indies Masters secured a six-run win against Sri Lanka Masters.
- Denesh Ramdin scored an explosive 50 runs.
- Tino Best took 4 wickets, pivotal to the victory.
- The final will feature West Indies Masters vs. India Masters.
- The match showcased remarkable performances from both teams.
Raipur, March 14 (NationPress) West Indies Masters delivered a stellar all-around performance to secure a six-run victory against Sri Lanka Masters in the second semifinal of the International Masters League (IML) 2025. This win sets the stage for a clash with the India Masters, led by Sachin Tendulkar, in the title match this Sunday. The West Indies' success was underpinned by a half-century from Denesh Ramdin and a solid contribution from Brian Lara, complemented by Tino Best'sShaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Friday.
Lara showcased his timeless talent with a graceful 41 runs against a disciplined Sri Lanka bowling unit, while Denesh Ramdin provided the late surge with an explosive unbeaten 50, steering the West Indies Masters to a total of 179/5. In response, Sri Lanka Masters struggled to find their rhythm after early setbacks and were ultimately limited to 173/9 thanks to Best's incisive pace bowling.
While batting first, the West Indies Masters faced an early blow when Dwayne Smith was dismissed cheaply. However, William Perkins (24) and Lendl Simmons (17) steadied the ship with a resilient 43-run partnership.
Just when they seemed to stabilize, the Sri Lanka attack struck twice, leaving the West Indies at 48/3. This brought Lara to the crease, who, even at 55, displayed agility and elegance reminiscent of his prime.
With his trademark flair, Lara anchored the innings, forming a crucial 60-run partnership with Chadwick Walton, guiding the team past the 100-run mark.
Walton contributed aggressively with a quick 31 runs off 20 balls before being dismissed, but Lara's presence reassured the team. He maintained a steady pace, accumulating runs until he retired after facing 33 balls, with four boundaries and a six.
Denesh Ramdin then took charge, launching a fierce attack and scoring a rapid 50 off just 22 balls, further boosting the West Indies Masters' total.
The Sri Lanka chase faltered as wickets fell continuously, with Asela Gunaratne being the standout performer, scoring 66 off 42 balls. Despite his efforts, the disciplined bowling from the West Indies Masters proved too strong.
The West Indies made quick inroads, claiming the vital wicket of skipper Kumar Sangakkara (17) early on. Tino Best's explosive spell, which included the dismissals of Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne, left the Sri Lanka team reeling at 57/3.
As the pressure mounted, Gunaratne fought valiantly, reaching a 32-ball fifty. However, further wickets from Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith continued to cripple the Sri Lankan innings.
Best returned for a second spell and immediately struck again, sending Jeevan Mendis back, leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position at 97/6.
With Gunaratne still batting and Isuru Udana adding a quick 21 runs, the pair managed a vital 39-run partnership until Smith ended Udana's innings.
As the final over approached, Sri Lanka needed 15 runs. Gunaratne hit a six off the first ball bowled by Lendl Simmons, but Simmons ultimately dismissed Gunaratne with the last ball of the match.
This Sunday, the India Masters, victors of the first semifinal, will face off against the West Indies Masters in what promises to be an exciting title showdown.
Brief 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 Best 4/27, Dwayne Smith 2/37) by 6 runs.
