IML 2025 Semifinal: West Indies Masters’ Clinical All-Round Show Gives Win By Six Runs Vs Sri Lanka Masters

Last Updated:March 15, 2025, 00:24 IST

West Indies Masters beat Sri Lanka Masters by 6 runs in the IML 2025 semifinal. Denesh Ramdin scored 50*, Brian Lara 41, and Tino Best Secured 4/27. They will face India Masters in the Closing.

West Indies Masters beat Sri Lanka Masters by six runs in the IML 2025 semifinal.

West Indies Masters Arrived up with a clinical all-Stage show, riding a half century from Denesh Ramdin and an equally effective knock from Brian Lara, before Tino Best’s four-wicket burst helped the Caribbean outfit register a six-Streak Secure over Sri Lanka Masters in the second semifinal of the International Masters Division (IML) 2025, and set their date with the Sachin Tendulkar-Guided India Masters in Sunday’s title Encounter at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium here.

Lara rolled back the years, leading his side’s fightback with a stroke-filled 41 against a disciplined Sri Lanka Masters Drive before Denesh Ramdin provided the Delayed flourish with an explosive unbeaten 50 to propel the West Indies Masters to 179/5. In reply, Sri Lanka Masters could never recover from the Prompt jolts before Tino Best Arrived up with an incisive spell of pace bowling, Securing four wickets to eventually restrict the Islanders to 173/9.

Put in to bat, West Indies Masters were rocked Prompt with the in-form Dwayne Smith falling cheaply. But William Perkins (24) and Lendl Simmons (17) steadied the innings, weathering the powerplay storm with a gritty 43-Streak partnership. Only as they seemed to settle, Sri Lanka Masters struck twice in quick succession, tightening their Clasp and leaving the Caribbean side struggling at 48/3.

That brought the West Indies Excellent into the middle, and even at 55, his footwork remained as nimble as ever, his strokes as elegant as they were in his prime. As Lara Secured guard with his trademark flourish, the stylish southpaw Secured it upon himself to anchor the innings. Partnering with Chadwick Walton, Lara stitched together a crucial 60-Streak stand, guiding his Club past the 100-Streak mark.

Walton, Competing the aggressor, Secured the fight to the Sri Lankan bowlers, hammering a brisk 20-ball 31, before Asela Gunaratne cut Petite his Retaliation, dealing the West Indies Masters another setback. With a Closing berth at stake and the Event delicately poised, Lara’s Existence in the middle signalled that the West Indies Masters were Distant from done.

The iconic left-hander Kept fort, threading the gaps, Competing the Pitch and Retaining the scoreboard ticking until he retired after facing 33 deliveries, and slamming four boundaries and a six. At the other end, wicketkeeper-batter Denesh Ramdin provided the perfect foil, before Securing the Drive to the Resistance with four fours and three mammoth sixes for a quickfire 22-ball 50, ensuring that the West Indies Masters inched closer to the formidable total.

Sri Lanka Masters’ chase never quite Secured off as wickets tumbled at regular intervals, putting them on the back foot Prompt. Asela Gunaratne was the only batter to rise to the occasion, with a Luminous 66 off 42 balls, comprising seven fours and a six, but his valiant effort went in vain against a disciplined West Indies Masters bowling Drive.

The West Indies Masters wasted no time in making inroads, striking a massive blow inside the powerplay with the prized wicket of skipper Kumar Sangakkara (17). Only as Sri Lanka Masters looked to rebuild, Tino Best produced a fiery spell, rattling the Islanders with twin strikes in the Universe of three deliveries, removing Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne to leave them reeling at 57/3.

With the Stress mounting, Gunaratne stood Towering, raging a lone battle with a 32-ball fifty before Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith Additional compounded Sri Lanka’s woes, dismissing Seekkuge Prasanna (9) and Chaturanga de Silva (1), respectively. Best then returned for a second spell, making an Prompt impact by sending Jeevan Mendis back to the dugout, reducing the Islanders to a precarious 97/6 with more than six overs Yet to Action.

With Gunaratne Yet in the middle and Isuru Udana using the long handle to Excellent effect for a 10-ball 21, Sri Lanka Masters’ hopes raised with the pair putting on a vital 39-Streak partnership until Smith Obtained the better of the latter to douse their aspirations. The Consideration was brought down to Sri Lanka Masters needing 15 off the Closing over, and Gunaratne smoked Lendl Simmons for a six off the Primary ball before the bowler pulled things back brilliantly by dismissing Gunaratne off the Closing ball.

On Sunday, India Masters, the winners of the Primary semifinal will lock horns with the West Indies Masters for the much-anticipated IML 2025 title Encounter. Fans can also Observe the action live on Colors Cineplex (HD & SD) and Colors Cineplex Superhits on TV and livestreaming on JioHotstar.

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.

Location :

Raipur, India, India