A disciplined bowling effort and all-round brilliance of Fabian Allen helped West Indies register a 3-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third T20I held at Coolidge Cricket Ground. With this win, the hosts managed to clinch the 3-match T20I series 2-1.
Sri Lanka stand-in T20I skipper Angelo Mathews won the crucial toss and opted to bat first without any hesitation on a slow turning track that looked to aid spinners.
The Sri Lankans came up with an unchanged XI while the hosts West Indies made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Rovman Powell to replace speedster Fidel Edwards.
Read – Angelo Mathews appointed as Captain for T20s in West Indies
Openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka who gave Sri Lanka a flying start in the last game, couldn’t provide a solid start this time around as the former was dismissed for just 9 runs in the third over of the innings.
Niroshan Dickwella who came to bat number three, didn’t stay long at the crease as he departed for just 5 runs in the very next over. Nissanka, a man in-form, struggled to time the ball precisely today and eventually threw his wicket away as he ran out of patience.
The visitors were reeling at 46 for 4 in the 10th over but Dinesh Chandimal and Ashen Bandara rescued the innings, putting on an unbeaten 85-run partnership for the 5th wicket, guiding Sri Lanka to a decent score.
Chandimal top scored with 54 runs off 46 balls including 3 furs while Bandara chipped in with 44 runs off 35 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. The partnership between Chandimal and Bandara is a new Sri Lankan record for the highest 5th wicket partnership in T20Is. The previous best (80) was put on by Chamara Kapugedara and Angelo Mathews against England in 2016.
Read More – Thirimanne and De Silva pass fitness test
Chasing a modest total of 132 runs to win, the hosts got off to a flying start putting on 37 runs for the opening wicket in 4.4 overs before Evin Lewis was trapped in front by leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for 21 runs.
Hasaranga continued to produce the goods once again, dismissing the other opener Lendel Simmons in his second over for 26 runs. The game changed in Sri Lanka’s favor as dangerous big hitters Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran lost their wickets in quick succession.
Read Also – Dananjaya’s hat-trick goes in vain as Pollard steers Windies to victory
However, a cameo of 21 runs off 6 balls including 3 sixes from Fabian Allen at the last minute sealed the victory for the hosts as they clinched the 3-match T20I series 2-1. Sri Lanka’s wrist spinners Lakshan Sandakan (3/29) and Hasaranga (2/13) once again shone with the ball while speedster Dushmantha Chameera impressed, picking up 2 scalps for 23 runs.
With the conclusion of the T20I series, both sides will now give their focus to the 50-over format of the game as the 3-match ODI series begins on 10th March (7.00 PM in Sri Lankan Time) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
