WEST Indies Captain Shai Hope has demanded a sharper, more clinical response from his team as they face Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International (ODI) today at Sabina Park, looking to square the three-match series after a 41-run defeat in the opener. The game is set for 2:30 pm.

“What’s gone is gone, it’s past.We’ve just got to look ahead and make sure all the learnings we gather from this encounter, we turn things around,” Hope said, urging his side to tighten up with ball, bat and in the field to make it 1-1.

Sri Lanka set the tone on Wednesday with 303 for seven off 50 overs. Despite a strong reply, the West Indies were bowled out for 262 in 48.4 overs, leaving them 0-1 down and needing a response.

“And as fast as we can learn — especially with the conditions, the way they go about bowling in different phases, and how their batters play against our bowlers — [we have to master how to change the outcome]. We’ve got to keep talking, keep communicating, and ensure we have all the right remedies to come out victorious,” Hope said.

Hope was blunt about the point at which the first game got away. The bowlers leaked early, and a dropped chance off the first ball set the tone.

Sri Lanka’s innings were powered by half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (79 runs) and Kusal Mendis (72 runs) as the pair shared in a 136-run, second-wicket stand that laid the platform. Charith Asalanka’s 45 off 44 balls and Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 42 from 28 balls provided the late surge for the Sri Lankans.

“The bowlers probably could have bowled a lot tighter lines, especially at the start of the innings. We know that Sri Lankan batters tend to prey on the width that we give them, so we’ve got to tighten up the lines in the next game,” he said.

“And then, obviously, in the field we gave a chance first ball of the game. When you give great players the opportunity to go again it’s always going to be difficult — you put yourself on the back foot every time and you’re playing catch-up,” Hope added.

With the bat, the story was familiar. The openers gave West Indies a platform but the middle order couldn’t convert. Openers John Campbell and Justin Greaves put on 50 runs in the West Indies’ run chase. Campbell was run out for 17 before Greaves was bowled on 45 off 38 balls, leaving the score at 73-2.Hope and Keacy Carty steadied the innings with a 52-run third-wicket stand, but Carty fell for 27 and Hope brought up a composed 54 from 66 balls before he was dismissed at 166-5 in the 31st over. A 46-run partnership between Chase and Gudakesh Motie briefly kept West Indies in the hunt, but that was all she wrote.

HOPE…we’ve got to keep talking, keep communicating, and ensure we have all the right remedies to come out victorious (CWI Media)

“With the bat, there are certain areas where we could have been a lot more clinical. The openers got off to a great start, once again, and then we just keep finding ways to get out,” Hope admitted.

“We’ve got to take more responsibility as batters, take the game as deep as we can, and find ways to win from any position. So, all in all, I just feel as though we need to tighten up in all three areas,” Hope urged.

Today’s clash adds another chapter to a competitive ODI rivalry. Sri Lanka hold the overall edge but recent series have been tight. The most memorable meeting came at the 2019 World Cup at Chester-le-Street. Sri Lanka posted 338 for six behind Avishka Fernando’s maiden hundred. West Indies, led by Nicholas Pooran’s 118, fell just 23 runs short in a thrilling chase that went to the final over.

West Indies swept Sri Lanka 3-0 at home in 2021, with Hope and Evin Lewis dominating the series. Sri Lanka returned the favour in 2023, winning 2-1 in Sri Lanka after West Indies took the opener. That push-and-pull history is why Hope’s message is centred on learning fast.

Sri Lanka know how to punish loose bowling and capitalise on fielding errors. West Indies know they can score 300 but have to be clinical to defend or chase. A win squares the series and sets up a decider. A loss hands Sri Lanka the series with a game to spare.

For Hope, the equation is simple: Tighter lines, cleaner fielding, and batters batting deep.

“Make it 1-1 at the end of the series,” he said.

The first step is today.