Sri Lanka’s struggles in T20I cricket continued as they suffered a defeat in the opening match of the three-game T20I series against West Indies at Sabina Park.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed T20I captain Kusal Mendis elected to bat first. The visitors managed to post 147 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs, with vice-captain Kamindu Mendis leading the batting effort with a crucial half-century.
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Kamindu top-scored for Sri Lanka with a well-composed 51 off 39 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes. The skipper Mendis provided a brisk start at the top of the order, contributing 36 runs off 23 balls with two fours and three sixes.
However, West Indies’ bowling attack kept Sri Lanka under pressure throughout the innings, with Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph claiming three wickets each to restrict the visitors from posting a bigger total.
Chasing 148 for victory, West Indies reached the target in the final over with seven wickets in hand. Captain Shai Hope anchored the successful chase with a match-winning unbeaten knock of 65 runs from 54 deliveries, featuring five fours and two sixes.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with figures of 2 wickets for 32 runs, but the visitors were unable to create enough pressure as West Indies secured a 1-0 lead in the series.
Cricket fans can catch all the action from Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies LIVE on ThePapare 1 & 1 HD (Dialog TV Channels 62 & 126).
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | b Jason Holder | 18 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 128.57 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Roston Chase b Shamar Joseph | 36 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 156.52 |
| Lasith Croospulle | lbw b Jason Holder | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | c Shimron Hetmyer b Shamar Joseph | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | run out (Matthew Forde) | 51 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 130.77 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Matthew Forde b Roston Chase | 22 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 95.65 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Shai Hope b Shamar Joseph | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | c Rovman Powell b Jason Holder | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | run out (Jason Holder) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Eshan Malinga | not out | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 4 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 147/9 (20 Overs, RR: 7.35) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeal Hosein | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 | |
| Matthew Forde | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 10.67 | |
| Jason Holder | 4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 | |
| Shamar Joseph | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 | |
| Romario Shepherd | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 | |
| Roston Chase | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | b Wanindu Hasaranga | 37 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 168.18 |
| Shai Hope | not out | 65 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 120.37 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | c Pavan Rathnayake b Wanindu Hasaranga | 17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 188.89 |
| Roston Chase | b Eshan Malinga | 16 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 61.54 |
| Rovman Powell | not out | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 166.67 |
| Extras | 4 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 1, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 149/3 (19.2 Overs, RR: 7.71) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madusanka | 3.2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 12.19 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 5.00 | |
| Eshan Malinga | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.50 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 | |
