DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka made historical past by securing their first-ever T20I sequence victory in opposition to the West Indies, due to a dominant nine-wicket win within the remaining match in Dambulla on Thursday.
The great victory gave Sri Lanka a 2-1 sequence triumph, marking one other excessive level in what has been a exceptional 12 months for the workforce.
Chasing a goal of 163, Sri Lanka’s victory was by no means unsure as Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera put collectively a flawless show of batting. Their unbeaten half-centuries ensured that the hosts coasted to 166 for one in simply 18 overs, wrapping up the match with ease.
Earlier, the West Indies elected to bat however faltered early. Their innings started on a disastrous observe when Evin Lewis fell to Maheesh Theekshana for a duck within the very first over. Regardless of some resistance from Brandon King, who contributed 23, the relentless spin bowling from Sri Lanka shortly put the guests on the again foot. Theekshana bowled King within the sixth over, tightening Sri Lanka’s maintain on the sport.
Struggled to construct any momentum
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West Indies struggled to construct any momentum, with Roston Chase providing a easy return catch to Kamindu Mendis and Shai Hope getting caught within the slips for 18, leaving the workforce in deep trouble. When Sherfane Rutherford departed for six within the twelfth over, they have been decreased to 62 for 5.
Captain Rovman Powell, nevertheless, managed to stage a late restoration alongside Gudakesh Motie, who launched a brutal assault on Dunith Wellalage, smashing 25 runs off a single over. Their partnership briefly revived the West Indies innings, however it was short-lived as Motie was stumped off the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga for a quickfire 32 off simply 15 balls.
Powell remained the regular power, scoring 37, whereas Romario Shepherd added a helpful 18 because the West Indies posted a aggressive complete of 162-8. Their efforts within the remaining three overs supplied some hope for the guests, with 39 runs added in that essential interval.
Swift and authoritative
Sri Lanka’s response was swift and authoritative. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis wasted no time getting their workforce off to a flying begin, racing to 50 in simply over 4 overs. Alzarri Joseph was costly in his opening spell, conceding 15 runs in a single over, and though Motie managed to take away Nissanka for 39, the strain was by no means actually on Sri Lanka.
Kusal Perera joined Mendis on the crease, and collectively they took management of the match. The West Indies briefly utilized strain with a number of economical overs from Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd, however the Sri Lankan batsmen remained unfazed. Mendis reached his fifty from 37 balls, whereas Perera introduced up his half-century off 34 deliveries.
Mendis, specifically, was in nice kind, hitting 5 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 68 from 50 balls. Perera performed the proper supporting function, ending on 55 not out from 36 balls, with seven boundaries. Fittingly, it was Perera who sealed the win, hitting the match-winning boundary within the 18th over to cap off an emphatic sequence victory for Sri Lanka.
