Sri Lanka 160 (Gunathilaka 56, Nissanka 37, Bravo 2-25) beat West Indies 117 (McCoy 23, Sandakan 3-10, Hasaranga 3-17) by 43 runs
Sri Lanka’s spinners manufactured a convincing 43-run victory over the West Indies in Antigua to keep the three-match series alive and bring an end to an eight-match losing streak in T20Is.
On a sluggish surface, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Lakshan Sandakan proved a handful – picking up seven wickets between them, the latter two picking up three wickets apiece – as Sri Lanka defended their total of 160 with ease. Such was the control Sri Lanka’s spinners exerted, even part-time offspinner Danushka Gunathilaka got in on the act, picking up the wicket of Jason Holder.
In fact, 68 of the 117 runs the hosts eventually accumulated came off Sri Lanka’s two fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Thisara Perera; 41 of those were taken from Perera’s two overs alone.
But while the final margin of victory suggested total dominance on the part of the visitors, at the half-way point they would have felt 15-20 runs short considering the start they had.
Gunathilaka, in particular, was in great nick, continuing the form that had seen him top the run charts at the Lanka Premier League a few months back. His 56 runs came off 42 deliveries and included four fours and two sixes, but it was the control he exerted throughout that was most impressive, rarely needing to take risks to accumulate his runs.
Alongside him Pathum Nissanka – one of the few bright sparks for the visitors from the first T20I – kept the scoreboard ticking along as the pair put on 56 inside the powerplay and 94 in the first ten overs. But the middle order once more failed to produce anything of substance as the next ten overs produced only 66 runs. Indeed it was only a late 11-ball 19 not out from the Player of the Match Hasaranga that saw Sri Lanka even manage the score they did – one which eventually proved enough.
Full report to follow
Source: ESPN Crickinfo