Joseph’s firestorm and Holder’s finishing blow seal series for West Indies

West Indies turned a tense Sabina Park finale into a statement of resilience on Sunday, clinching a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to take the three-match T20I series 2–1.

The foundation was laid by a devastating spell from Shamar Joseph, whose 5-33 dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting plans, before late fireworks from Jason Holder and an unshaken finish from Sherfane Rutherford completed a dramatic turnaround with two balls to spare.

Sri Lanka, sent in to bat, were restricted to 169 all out, competitive, but ultimately not enough on a surface that demanded discipline and composure under pressure.

Sri Lanka build, break, and break again

Sri Lanka’s innings never quite settled into rhythm despite pockets of resistance. Early strikes disrupted their intent, even as brief partnerships threatened to shift control.

Kusal Mendis was removed cheaply after a sharp reflex catch, setting an uneasy tone. A 43-run stand offered recovery, but Joseph returned to rip through the core of the innings, removing both openers’ momentum in a burst that flipped the match’s balance.

Further down the order, Sri Lanka briefly regained traction through Dunith Wellalage’s counterpunching 43, but once Joseph returned for his final spell, the innings unraveled completely. The last four wickets fell for just nine runs, sealing Sri Lanka’s total at 169 and handing West Indies a target that still required precision under pressure.

West Indies stumble, then shatter the pressure

The chase began in chaos. Captain Shai Hope fell with just the third ball of the innings, and Sri Lanka’s spin attack quickly tightened the grip.

Within minutes, West Indies collapsed to 53 for four, bruised, rattled, and staring at defeat.

But as has so often been the case in Kingston, momentum refused to stay still.

A counterattacking stand between Rutherford and Rovman Powell flipped the emotional temperature of the match. Powell’s clean striking, particularly his assault in the 17th over, dragged the equation back into reach, even as wickets continued to fall around him.

When Powell departed for 33, the stage was set for a decisive final act.

Holder turns the match in one over

With the chase narrowing into a knife-edge finish, Holder delivered the knockout punch.

In the 19th over, he launched Sri Lanka’s attack into the stands with three towering sixes off Dushmantha Chameera, collapsing the equation from tension to control in a matter of deliveries.

From there, Rutherford, despite being dropped twice, kept his composure. His unbeaten 54 anchored the final phase, and it was fittingly he who guided the West Indies to the brink before Holder finished the job alongside him, ending on a blistering 21 not out from just five balls.

West Indies crossed the line at 170 for five, sealing both the match and the series in dramatic fashion.

A series defined by control under pressure

The result capped a 2-1 series win for West Indies, a significant step in a tightly contested rivalry that has swung between both sides in recent years.

It also reinforced the impact of Joseph’s breakout brilliance, his match-winning spells consistently shifting games before batters like Rutherford and Holder ensured the advantage did not slip away.

In a match defined by collapse and recovery, West Indies ultimately proved sharper in the decisive moments.

Sri Lanka had the structure. West Indies had the finish.