DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka made history by securing their first-ever T20I series victory against the West Indies, thanks to a dominant nine-wicket win in the final match in Dambulla on Thursday.
The comprehensive victory gave Sri Lanka a 2-1 series triumph, marking another high point in what has been a remarkable year for the team.
Chasing a target of 163, Sri Lanka’s victory was never in doubt as Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera put together a flawless display of batting. Their unbeaten half-centuries ensured that the hosts coasted to 166 for one in just 18 overs, wrapping up the match with ease.
Earlier, the West Indies elected to bat but faltered early. Their innings began on a disastrous note when Evin Lewis fell to Maheesh Theekshana for a duck in the very first over. Despite some resistance from Brandon King, who contributed 23, the relentless spin bowling from Sri Lanka quickly put the visitors on the back foot. Theekshana bowled King in the sixth over, tightening Sri Lanka’s hold on the game.
Struggled to build any momentum
West Indies struggled to build any momentum, with Roston Chase offering a simple return catch to Kamindu Mendis and Shai Hope getting caught in the slips for 18, leaving the team in serious trouble. When Sherfane Rutherford departed for six in the 12th over, they were reduced to 62 for five.
Captain Rovman Powell, however, managed to stage a late recovery alongside Gudakesh Motie, who launched a brutal attack on Dunith Wellalage, smashing 25 runs off a single over. Their partnership briefly revived the West Indies innings, but it was short-lived as Motie was stumped off the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga for a quickfire 32 off just 15 balls.
Powell remained the steady force, scoring 37, while Romario Shepherd added a useful 18 as the West Indies posted a competitive total of 162-8. Their efforts in the final three overs provided some hope for the visitors, with 39 runs added in that crucial period.
Swift and authoritative
Sri Lanka’s response was swift and authoritative. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis wasted no time getting their team off to a flying start, racing to 50 in just over four overs. Alzarri Joseph was expensive in his opening spell, conceding 15 runs in one over, and although Motie managed to remove Nissanka for 39, the pressure was never truly on Sri Lanka.
Kusal Perera joined Mendis at the crease, and together they took control of the match. The West Indies briefly applied pressure with a few economical overs from Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd, but the Sri Lankan batsmen remained unfazed. Mendis reached his fifty from 37 balls, while Perera brought up his half-century off 34 deliveries.
Mendis, in particular, was in fine form, hitting five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 68 from 50 balls. Perera played the perfect supporting role, finishing on 55 not out from 36 balls, with seven boundaries. Fittingly, it was Perera who sealed the win, hitting the match-winning boundary in the 18th over to cap off an emphatic series victory for Sri Lanka.
