Brisk half-centuries from Brandon King and Evin Lewis secured a win for West Indies in the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
West Indies skipper Rovman Powell decided to bowl first after a 30-minute delay to start the match. They hand T20 International debut to 26-year-old all rounder from Barbados, Shamar Springer.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka brought back Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who last featured in the side in January 2023. Aside from that, the hosts remained with the same combination they had against India in July.
West Indies (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk), Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Shamar Springer, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando
Sri Lanka suffered early setbacks, losing their top order within the first 8 overs for just 58 runs. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera were dismissed in the space of six balls during the powerplay. Sri Lanka finished the first six overs with 54 runs on the board before Kusal Mendis was knocked over by Gutakesh Motie for 19.
Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka revived the innings, putting together 82 runs for the fourth wicket off 52 balls. Mendis brought up his second T20I fifty in 36 deliveries, including 5 fours and 2 sixes, before falling to Shamar Springer, marking his maiden wicket.
Asalanka also smashed a 29-ball half-century before Alzarri Joseph ended the captain’s innings when he was holed out to deep mid-wicket for 59, striking 9 boundaries. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, on his return, played a cameo of 17 off 11 as Sri Lanka finished with 179/7.
On the bowling front, Romario Shepherd took two wickets for 39 runs in his 4 overs, while Shamar Joseph was economical, conceding only 27 runs and picking up a wicket.
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West Indies got off to a flying start with Brandon King and Evin Lewis taking the Lankan bowlers to the cleaners, posting the highest powerplay score at the venue with 74 runs. The openers continued to dominate even after the first 6 overs.
Both reached their half-centuries in quick succession, with King getting there off 25 balls and Lewis following with his fifty in 27 balls. Their 107-run opening stand was broken by Matheesha Pathirana, who took the wicket of Lewis, who struck 5 fours and 4 sixes.
Wanindu Hasaranga sent back Shai Hope for 7 before Kamindu Mendis claimed the wicket of King after a brutal knock of 63 off just 33 balls, consisting of 11 fours and a six.
The hosts managed to drag the game to the final over despite the damage done by the visiting openers, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win, as Sherfane Rutherford took West Indies home after losing 5 wickets.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Shai Hope b Romario Shepherd | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | b Gudakesh Motie | 19 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 118.75 |
| Kusal Perera | b Shamar Joseph | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Roston Chase b Shamar Springer | 51 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 127.50 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Evin Lewis b Alzarri Joseph | 59 | 35 | 9 | 0 | 168.57 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | c Gudakesh Motie b Romario Shepherd | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 154.55 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | run out (Shai Hope) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | not out | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 400.00 |
| Extras | 7 (b 0 , lb 3 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 179/7 (20 Overs, RR: 8.95) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alzarri Joseph | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | |
| Shamar Joseph | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 | |
| Romario Shepherd | 4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 | |
| Roston Chase | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 7.25 | |
| Gudakesh Motie | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 | |
| Shamar Springer | 2 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 12.50 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | c Kusal Perera b Kamindu Mendis | 63 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 190.91 |
| Evin Lewis | c Chamindu Wickramasinghe b Matheesha Pathirana | 50 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 178.57 |
| Shai Hope | c & b Wanindu Hasaranga | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Roston Chase | c Kusal Mendis b Matheesha Pathirana | 19 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 118.75 |
| Rovman Powell | c Wanindu Hasaranga b Maheesh Theekshana | 13 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 72.22 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | not out | 14 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Romario Shepherd | not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | 13 (b 0 , lb 6 , nb 0, w 7, pen 0) |
| Total | 180/5 (19.1 Overs, RR: 9.39) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 13.50 | |
| Asitha Fernando | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 9.25 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 3.1 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 8.71 | |
| Kamindu Mendis | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 7.00 | |
