England opener Jonny Bairstow’s maiden ODI hundred ensured West Indies suffered a seven-wicket defeat at Old Trafford on Tuesday, that meant they lost the direct entry into the 2019 World Cup to Sri Lanka.
West Indies, the 1975 and 1979 World Cup champions had to win this five-match series 5-0, or 4-0 with a tie or no result, to avoid the indignity of going through qualifying for the next edition in England in two years’ time.
But Bairstow’s 100 not out saw England easily chase down a meagre target of 205 in a match reduced to 42 overs per side by a wet outfield as the hosts went 1-0 up with 67 balls to spare.
The Sri Lanka support to England for the win was unprecedent.
“I wonder whether England has ever garnered so much of Sri Lankan support& interest in their games vs Windies as they have today!” wrote noted Sri Lanka commentator Roshan Abeysinghe on his Twitter handle before the match.
This means that West Indies with 78 points now cannot move ahead of Sri Lanka (86 points) irrespective of the outcome of their remaining matches. The Windies will now progress to the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, where they will be joined by the bottom three sides – Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland – as well as the top four sides from the Cricket League Championship and the top two sides from the Cricket League Division 2.
