Do or die battle for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka vs. West Indies T20 series

By Shamseer Jaleel in Kandy

 Sri Lanka will need to put up a miracle performance when they meet the visiting West Indies outfit in the second and final T20 encounter, which will take place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in the Central Hills tonight. Once again, a batting-friendly wicket has been arranged by the curator, which should see a sell-out crowd of 35,000 in the Hills tonight.

Oshane Thomas, match winner of the first T20

The encounter will start at 7 pm.

West Indies’ batting looked to be their main strength while their bowling was also good, with Thomas picking up a 5 wicket haul in his 4 overs, a remarkable feat for the youngster. Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga banked more on the medium pacies instead of the slow bowlers, which made the batting easier as the ball came to the bat as they like in quick time.

The only two plus points in this encounter for the hosts were once again the all-round performance of Wanindu Hasaranga plus the batting of Kusal Perera. For the Windies, there were many takers: the batting display of Simmons, well-supported by Andre Russell and skipper Kieron Pollard, for example, while in the bowling it was the evergreen pacie, Oshane Thomas. In fact, Thomas becomes only the second bowler in T20 history to take 5 wickets within the first power play.

 West Indies (probable side)

Llendl Simmons, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (Capt.), Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas

Sri Lanka (probable side)

Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga (Capt.) and Lakshan Sandakan