Sri Lanka knock wind out of West Indies sails

Sri Lanka team after their historic maiden T20I series win (2-1) against West Indies

Kusal Mendis scored crucial half-century in Sri Lanka’s run chase

Kusal Perera clubs one away for four during his innings of 55*

Pathum Nissanka comes out of blocks firing with 

39 off 22 balls

Rowman Powell and Gudekesh Motie added crucial 

54 off 26 balls at death

Evin Lewis is castled by Maheesh Theekshana 

for duck 

• Win T20I series against Caribbeans for first time

Sa’adi Thawfeeq reporting from Dambulla

Sri Lanka came up with one of their most memorable performances in T20I cricket when they chased down a target of 163 to beat West Indies by a resounding margin of nine wickets in the third and final T20I to win the three-match series 2-1 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The win was a historic one for Sri Lanka because it was the first time they had beaten West Indies in a T20I bilateral series in four meetings.

When West Indies won the toss and ran up a total of 162-8 they would have thought that they had enough on the board as Captain Rowman Powell at the toss said 145-150 would be a par score.

However, Sri Lanka came out with a plan and executed it to the very letter to notch up a memorable win. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis got them off to a flying start posting 60 off 33 balls inside the power play, and after Nissanka’s departure for a well executed 39 off 22 balls (7 fours, 1 six), Kusal Perera joined Mendis and the two combined forces superbly to hunt the runs down figuring in an unbroken stand of 106 off 78 balls.

Both batsmen notched up their 16th T20I fifties and never released their grip on the game, smashing the ball to all parts of the ground much to the delight of the Poya holiday spectators who packed the stadium to capacity. Mendis top scored with a superlative 68* off 50 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes), and Perera batting with composure finished unbeaten on 55 off 36 balls (7 fours). The manner in which they decimated the West Indies bowlers put them under immense pressure which eventually saw their wheels come off.

West Indies would be disappointed with their performance. They showed a lot of fight with the bat to recover from 62-5 to post a competitive total, but were clueless with the ball as Nissanka and Mendis took charge in the power play. There was enough on offer for the bowlers but they were either too short or too full and the spinners bowled too quickly to extract whatever assistance the pitch was offering. Despite having the runs on the board West Indies bowlers lacked the consistency or the tactical ability to do the job. An inconsistent bowling display by Sri Lanka allowed the West Indies to recover after a poor start. Sri Lanka were very good in the first 12 overs when they captured five wickets for 62, but then started bowling a touch too short that saw them concede five sixes between the 13th and 15th overs which enabled West Indies to wrestle back the advantage.

Powell and Gudakesh Motie led the recovery with a 54-run stand off 26 balls. Powell dispatched Kamindu Mendis for six and smashed Charith Asalanka for another over later, before Motie pulverised Dunith Wellalage into submission in his last over which cost 25 runs and included 3 sixes and one four. Powell scored 37 off 27 balls and Motie 32 off 15 with each hitting 3 sixes and a four. Their power hitting set the tone for the rest of the West Indies innings and they continued with that momentum till the end of the innings.

Once again it was the Lankan spinners who were amongst the wickets capturing 6 of the 8 to fall with seamers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara picking up one apiece.

Nissanka was made Player of the Series and Kusal Mendis took the Player of the Match award.

The two teams will meet in a three-match ODI series commencing at Pallekele from Sunday.