An unbeaten 81 from Shimron Hetmeyer went in vain as Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 20 runs to knock the defending champions out of the T20 World Cup and end their campaign on a high in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

Asked to bat, fifties from Pathum Nissanka (51) and Charith Asalanka (68) – two of Sri Lanka’s emerging batting stars – powered the 2014 champions to an imposing total of 189 for the loss of three. 

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Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals ended after consecutive losses against Australia, South Africa and England. Sri Lanka began their Super 12 campaign by beating Bangladesh, after topping Group A in the preliminary round with three wins from three. 

However, there will be plenty of positives to take for the Lanka Lions, with their emerging crop of young players like Nissanka, Asalanka and world No 1 spinner Wanindu Hasaranga impressing in the showpiece event.  

Hasaranga once again starred with with the ball, taking two wickets for 19 runs in four overs.

The West Indies, who have won two of the last three world titles, are now mathematically out of the competition with two points from four games. Their final Super 12 game is against Australia on Saturday.

Sri Lanka batters played with freedom and flair to set up a daunting target which prove to be too steep for West Indies, who could never recover from a poor start to the run chase.

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For Sri Lanka, it was their second win of the Super 12 stage and they go home offering hopes for a bright future.

The West Indies’ forgettable campaign showed the need to look beyond greats like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo while rebuilding ahead of the 2022 edition.

While a generation of talent will end for the Caribbean side with their World Cup campaign, they too have bright young talent like Nicholas Pooran, Hetmeyer and Akeal Hosein to look forward to.