Sri Lanka clinch historic T20I series win over WI

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (CMC):

The West Indies lost their first bilateral T20 series to Sri Lanka after going down by nine wickets in the third and final match in Dambulla to lose the series 2-1 here yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s remarkable 2024 continued as Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera powered their team to a historic T20I series win. The duo’s commanding unbeaten half-centuries helped Sri Lanka comfortably chase the target of 163 on a dry Dambulla surface, sealing the match in 18 overs at 166 for one.

West Indies, opting to bat first, got off to a rocky start when Maheesh Theekshana bowled Evin Lewis with just the fourth delivery of the innings for a duck.

Brandon King had gotten to 23 and showed some early intent alongside Shai Hope, but the spin threat from Sri Lanka was unrelenting. Theekshana struck again in the sixth over, deceiving King with a ball that crashed into the middle stump.

The West Indian innings faltered further as Roston Chase gifted a soft return catch to Kamindu Mendis for eight, while Hope was sent packing after a sharp low catch by Pathum Nissanka at first slip for 18.

The visitors would find themselves in further trouble in the 12th over when Charith Asalanka removed Sherfane Rutherford for six, at 62 for five.

West Indies found some fight through captain Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Motie, who hammered 25 runs off a Wellalage over, including three sixes and a four. However, Wanindu Hasaranga quickly dismissed Motie, stumped for 32 off just 15 balls.

Late contributions from Powell (37) and Romario Shepherd (18) took the West Indies total to a defendable 162-8, thanks to 39 runs in the final three overs.

However, Sri Lanka’s response was ruthless as openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis smashed 50 runs in just 4.1 overs.

Alzarri Joseph leaked 15 runs in the second over, and despite Motie claiming Nissanka’s wicket for 39, the relentless attack continued.

Kusal Perera joined Mendis in the sixth over and the pair put on an unbeaten series-winning partnership of 106, keeping the hosts firmly on track.

The only semblance of control West Indies managed was a tight three-over spell from Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd, where they conceded just 14 runs. But the Sri Lankan pair remained composed, with Mendis reaching his half-century in 37 balls and Perera following suit off 34 deliveries.

Mendis hit five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten knock of 68 from 50 balls.

Fittingly, Perera who scored 55 not out from 36 balls with seven fours, sealed the victory in the 18th over with a boundary, completing a dominant eight-wicket win.