Pathum Nissanka anchored the innings with a half-century, and Dunith Wellalage shone on his T20I debut with figures of 3 for 9, leading Sri Lanka to a commanding 73-run victory over West Indies in Dambulla. The Three-match T20I series now stands at 1-1.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka decided to bat first and made a couple of changes. Rising spin all-rounder Dunith Wellalage was handed his much-awaited T20 International debut, becoming Sri Lanka’s 109th T20I cap. Additionally, slinger Nuwan Thushara made a comeback to the side, while Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Asitha Fernando were left out.
>>Bhanuka Rajapaksa returns as Sri Lanka announce T20I squad to face West Indies
Despite winning the first game, the West Indies made one change to their lineup, bringing in experienced keeper-batter Andre Fletcher for Shai Hope.
West Indies (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Andre Fletcher (wk), Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Shamar Springer, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Josep
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
West Indies bowlers kept things tight in the first three overs against the Sri Lankan openers, conceding only 8 runs. The hosts gained some momentum when Pathum Nissanka struck four consecutive fours in the fourth over, finishing with a massive 25-run over against Shamar Joseph, which included four leg byes and a wide. Sri Lanka raced to 52 at the end of the powerplay.
Shamar Springer conceded 13 runs in his first over before providing the visitors with their first breakthrough, as Kusal Mendis holed out to long-on after scoring 26 at just over a run-a-ball. Kusal Perera smashed three fours in the 13th over off Roston Chase but was trapped by Shamar Joseph in the next over.
>>Brutal King and Lewis steer West Indies to winning start
Alzarri Joseph knocked over Nissanka after he reached fifty early in the over. The opener scored 54 off 49 deliveries, including 9 fours and a six. Most of the other batters struggled to get going on a slightly sluggish pitch. Kamindu Mendis played a cameo, scoring 19 runs off 14 balls, as Sri Lanka finished with 162 for 5.
Gutakesh Motie bowled economically, finishing wicketless while conceding just 13 runs in his full quota of overs. Romario Shepherd bowled three overs, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs.
With the early introduction of spin, the chase became challenging for the West Indies, as they were reduced to 21 for 3 in the first 6 overs. Debutant Dunith Wellalage struck early, removing the dangerous Brandon King in his first over. Evin Lewis was given out LBW off Maheesh Theekshana, and Wellalage accounted for both Chase and Fletcher soon after.
The wickets continued to tumble as the visitors slumped to 40 for 7, with Asalanka joining the action by bowling out Motie and Rutherford. The West Indian batters struggled against the spin, eventually being bundled out for 89 in just 16.1 overs. Skipper Rovman Powell top-scored with 20 runs, while Alzarri Joseph added 16.
>>Kumar Sangakkara to lead Sri Lanka in International Masters League 2024
Wellalage was impressive in his maiden T20I game, taking 3 wickets for just 9 runs in 4 overs. Alongside him, skipper Asalanka, Theekshana, and Hasaranga shared another six wickets between them.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | b Shamar Joseph | 54 | 49 | 9 | 1 | 110.20 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Rovman Powell b Shamar Springer | 26 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 104.00 |
| Kusal Perera | lbw b Shamar Joseph | 24 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Sherfane Rutherford b Romario Shepherd | 19 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 135.71 |
| Charith Asalanka | b Sheldon Cottrell, | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 128.57 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | not out | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | not out | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 250.00 |
| Extras | 20 (b 0 , lb 10 , nb 0, w 10, pen 0) |
| Total | 162/5 (20 Overs, RR: 8.1) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alzarri Joseph | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 | |
| Shamar Joseph | 3 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 11.67 | |
| Gudakesh Motie | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 | |
| Romario Shepherd | 3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 7.67 | |
| Shamar Springer | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 12.00 | |
| Roston Chase | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | st Kusal Mendis b Dunith Wellalage | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Evin Lewis | lbw b Maheesh Theekshana | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 53.85 |
| Andre Fletcher | c Kamindu Mendis b Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 36.36 |
| Roston Chase | c Kamindu Mendis b Dunith Wellalage | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | b Charith Asalanka | 14 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Gudakesh Motie | b Charith Asalanka | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Rovman Powell | c Matheesha Pathirana b Kusal Mendis | 20 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 117.65 |
| Romario Shepherd | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Shamar Springer | c Dunith Wellalage b Wanindu Hasaranga | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Alzarri Joseph | b Maheesh Theekshana | 16 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 160.00 |
| Shamar Joseph | not out | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Extras | 6 (b 0 , lb 4 , nb 0, w 2, pen 0) |
| Total | 89/10 (16.1 Overs, RR: 5.51) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maheesh Theekshana | 3.1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2.26 | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 2.25 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3.00 | |
| Kamindu Mendis | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 3 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 10.67 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 6.00 | |
