The West Indies Masters delivered a strong all-round performance, featuring a half-century from Denesh Ramdin and an equally impressive innings from captain Brian Lara. Tino Best’s four-wicket haul then propelled the Caribbean team to a narrow six-run victory against Sri Lanka Masters in the second semifinal of the International Masters League (IML) 2025, securing their place in the final against the Sachin Tendulkar-led India Masters on Sunday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
The second semifinal of the IML T20, 2025, which saw West Indies Masters face off against SL Masters, occurred on the day when all of India celebrates Holi—a vibrant festival that encourages people to set aside their grievances and animosities. This festive atmosphere likely influenced the turnout at SVNS Stadium in Raipur. Nevertheless, the support for Caribbean cricketers is noteworthy; even with such an important celebration taking place on March 14th, a small number of people from Chhattisgarh still gathered to cheer for Brian Lara, Sangakkara, and their respective teams.
The captain of SL Masters, Kumar Sagakkara won the toss and chose to bowl first, following the trend set by other captains who prefer to field initially. This strategy aims to avoid the dew factor later in the innings, which can affect performance, particularly for bowlers who often find it difficult to grip the ball due to moisture,
Ineffective communication resulted in an early setback for WI masters.
After being put in to bat, the West Indies Masters faced an early setback as the in-form Dwayne Smith was run out due to a lack of communication with Perkins.
However, Perkins (24) and Lendl Simmons (17) managed to stabilize the innings, navigating through the power play with a resilient 43-run partnership. Just when they appeared to be settling in, Sri Lanka Masters struck twice rapidly, tightening their hold on the game and thus leaving the Caribbean team in a tough position at 48/3.
Skipper Lara anchored the innings quite effectively.
It’s not uncommon for the West Indies legend to step into the crease with his team in a precarious position, as he often did during his playing days when he was frequently the solitary fighter. Even at 55, his footwork was as agile as ever, and his strokes retained the elegance they had in his prime.
As Lara took his stance with characteristic flair, the stylish left-hander committed himself to stabilizing the innings. Teaming up with Chadwick Walton, Lara formed a vital 60-run partnership that helped propel his team beyond the 100-run threshold.
Aggressive Walton energized the innings while Lara remained steady at one end.
Walton, taking on the role of aggressor, attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers with a quick 31 runs off 20 balls before Gunaratne interrupted his counteroffensive, causing another setback for the West Indies Masters.
With a spot in the finals on the line and the match finely balanced, Lara’s presence at the crease indicated that the West Indies Masters were not finished yet. The legendary left-hander anchored their innings, finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving until he retired with two overs remaining. This decision showcased his exceptional cricketing insight; recognizing that fresh legs capable of hitting big sixes were waiting in the dugout, he wisely chose to give them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, which would undoubtedly benefit the team.
Ramdin delivered a powerful conclusion to the WI Masters’ innings.
Wicketkeeper-batter Denesh Ramdin showcased some impressive hitting towards the end of the innings, aggressively targeting the opposition with four fours and three massive sixes for a rapid 50 off just 22 balls, helping the West Indies Masters move closer to a challenging total.
Sri Lanka Masters’ began the run chase steadily but collapsed in the middle.
The Sri Lanka Masters’ pursuit never really gained momentum. The West Indies Masters quickly made their mark, delivering a significant blow during the power play by taking the crucial wicket of captain Kumar Sangakkara (17). Just when the Sri Lanka Masters seemed to be recovering, Tino Best unleashed a fierce spell, unsettling the Islanders with two wickets in three balls, dismissing Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne and leaving them in a precarious position at 57/3.
Asela Gunaratne’s impressive performance was ultimately squandered.
Asela Gunaratne was the sole batter to step up, delivering an impressive 66 runs off 42 balls, which included seven fours and a six. However, his commendable performance was ultimately in vain against a disciplined West Indies Masters bowling attack.
As the pressure increased, Gunaratne remained resilient, fighting a solitary battle with a fifty off 32 deliveries before Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith exacerbated Sri Lanka’s difficulties by dismissing Seekkuge Prasanna (9) and Chaturanga de Silva (1), respectively.
Best then returned for another spell and made an immediate impact by sending Jeevan Mendis back to the pavilion, leaving the Islanders in a precarious position at 97/6 with over six overs remaining.
Udana’s fervent push towards the end kept SL Masters in contention.
With Gunaratne still at the crease and Isuru Udana effectively using his long bat to score 21 runs off 10 balls, Sri Lanka Masters’ hopes were lifted as the duo formed a crucial 39-run partnership until Smith dismissed Udana, extinguishing their ambitions.
However, the WI Masters, who had remained calm and composed for most of the match, suddenly appeared a bit anxious in the 18th over when skipper Lara, one of the game’s greatest fielders known for his catching ability anywhere on the field, dropped an easy catch. This was followed by a flurry of boundaries from an injured Gunaratne and aggressive Diluruwan Perera, which unsettled the Windies during that moment.
WI Masters held their composure in the end to advance to the semifinals.
The situation boiled down to Sri Lanka Masters requiring 15 runs in the last over, and Gunaratne struck Lendl Simmons for a six on the opening delivery before running two on the subsequent ball. Nevertheless, the bowler performed remarkably by bowling three straight dot balls and ultimately dismissing Gunaratne on the final ball of the match, aiding his team in clinching a place in the finals. On Sunday, India Masters, who triumphed in the first semifinal, will compete against West Indies Masters in the eagerly awaited IML 2025 championship match.
Viewers can experience all the excitement live on Colors Cineplex (HD & SD) and Colors Cineplex Superhits on television, as well as through livestreaming on JioHotstar.
Match Summary
West Indies Masters 179/5 (Denesh Ramdin 50 not out, Brian Lara 41, Chadwick Walton 31; Asela Gunaratne 1/14, Jeevan Mendis 1/26)
Sri Lanka Masters 173/9 (Asela Gunaratne 66, Upul Tharanga 30; Tino Best 4/27, Dwayne Smith 2/37)
Result: West Indies Masters beat Sri Lanka Masters by 6 runs
