Bowlers hand first win for the Windies to level T20 series

The West Indies bowlers’ held their nerve to defend 162 and clinch their first and only win of the tour when they beat Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the second T20I match at R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Clever bowling and exemplary fielding were the two main reasons for the success of the men from Caribbean Islands as they levelled the two-match series, 1-1. Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul shared 7 wickets to destroy Lankan hopes of a clean sweep of trophies.

After opting to bat first, openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher got the Windies to their best start in the whole tour by adding 62 runs for the first-wicket. Senanayake was taken to the cleaners by Charles in the 5th over when he smashed 22 runs including 3 huge sixes.

Sri Lanka’s find of the season, Milinda Siriwardana got the breakthrough when he trapped Fletcher right in front of the wicket in only his second delivery. Two balls later, Shehan Jayasuriya inflicted a superb direct-hit from the boundary to send back dangerous Marlon Samuels for one run as Windies were restricted 65 for 2.

Left-arm spinner Siriwardana worked his magic once again in the 9th over when Charles was struck plumb in front as Sri Lanka crawled their way back into the game.

Speedster Dushmantha Chameera outfoxed Andre Russell with a sharp bouncer but Denesh Ramdin and Bravo brought life into the Windies innings with a 31-ball partnership of 41 for the 5th wicket.

Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara used all their experience and kept Windies at bay. The visitors were able to notch up only 34 runs in the last 5 overs. Malinga’s expertise at the death got him the two prized scalps of Bravo and Pollard.

The home team were off to a blazing yet characteristic start but in-form Kusal Janith Perera dragged a Jerome Taylor delivery straight to mid-on as he was dismissed for 12 in the 3rd over.

Youngster Shehan Jayasuriya and experienced TM Dilshan were trying to lay a base for the remaining batsmen through their 70-run stand yet they consumed 60 vital balls. Jayasuriya used up 15 dot balls during his nervy 32-ball knock of 30 which proved to be the turning point of the disappointing chase by the hosts’. His dismissal off a stunning catch by Andre Russell at deep long-off triggered a major collapse.

Chandimal perished in no time while Dilshan’s responsible knock was ended soon after he reached a well-composed half-century to give Rampaul’s 2nd wicket in the 14th over. Dilshan’s switch hit was meant to be a six but substitute fielder, tallest in the ground, Jason Holder clung onto it in a spectacular fashion over his head at sweeper-cover.

As the asking-rate was climbing up over 10 runs per over, Angelo Mathews and Chamara Kapugedara fell while trying to clear the field to Bravo and Pollard respectively. Any hopes of retaliation were ended when Milinda Siriwardana was stumped off Sunil Narine in the 18th over. Poor execution of a gettable target denied Sri Lanka from winning the 7th consecutive match of the tour.