Home Cricket National Cricket Brutal King and Lewis steer West Indies to winning start

Brutal King and Lewis steer West Indies to winning start

West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2024

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West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2024 - 1st T20I

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.

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


Sri Lanka
179/7 (20)

West Indies
180/5 (19.1)

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