Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies in their first-ever bilateral T20I series, thanks to dominant, undefeated half-centuries from Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera. This caps an already remarkable 2024 for the team in all competitions.
West Indies chose to bat on a dry Dambulla surface, but they were dealt a quick blow when Mahesh Theekshana pitched on middle and leg stumps, then straightened to strike his back pad on the way to the stumps, destroying Evin Lewis.
Brandon King quickly organized an attack on Shai Hope’s group, while Dunith Wellalage, the other spin tormentor, was pulled into the fray early on. But that surge was short-lived as Theekshana struck again in the sixth over, tricking King with a carrom ball to hit the middle stump.
By the halfway point, West Indies had already lost two matches, and Roston Chase’s cheap dismissal, which gave Kamindu Mendis a meek return catch, did little to assist their cause.
Pathum Nissanka’s deft catch at first slip caught Shai Hope off guard, which required the third umpire’s confirmation to dismiss the West Indian. Even though there was some question about whether the catch was clean, the TV umpire saw enough in the replays to favour the bowling team.
Spin was once again the West Indies’ weak point; thus, Charith Asalanka entered the game and removed Sherfane Rutherford with the first ball of the 12th over, bringing the visitors down to 83/5.
Gudakesh Motie and skipper Rovman Powell responded with a surge of their own, which included a 25-run 15th over off Wellalage, in which the latter hit three sixes and one four.
Motie was dismissed for 32 off 15 when Hasaranga’s google overtook him in the next over after hitting 39 runs in the final three overs with Powell and Romario Shepherd. West Indies reached 162/8, which looked like a manageable total at the midway point.
But Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera went on to laugh off that effort, partnering for a series-winning 106* as Sri Lanka finished the chase in just 18 overs.
In the PowerPlay, Sri Lanka remained unstoppable as openers Pathum Nissanka and Mendis reached the 50-run mark in just 4.1 overs. West Indies began with spin in Fabien Allen to make similar early gains, but he was destroyed for three fours.
Alzarri Joseph gave up 15 runs in the second over as the ball went to all corners of the ground. With the wicket of Nissanka, Motie secured the first and only breakthrough, but the slaughter continued.
In the sixth over, Perera joined Mendis, helping the team stay on course. By the interval, they had taken the team to 98, and the West Indies struggled to find creative ways to use the ball.
The only resistance from the West Indies came from Romario Shepherd and Roston Chase during their three overs, during which they gave up just 14 runs. However, the two Sri Lankan batsmen made no mistakes as they took control and changed strategies late in the game.
Mendis reached his half-century with 37 balls in the 14th over, and Perera reached his off-century mark in the 18th. He hit a four to end the chase in that same over.
Brief Score: Sri Lanka 166/1 in 18 overs (Kusal Mendis 68*, Kusal Perera 55*Gudakesh Motie 1-32) defeated West Indies 162/8 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 37, Gudakesh Motie 32; Mahesh Theekshana 2-19, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-24) by nine wickets.