In yesterday’s first Twenty20 match at the Dambulla International Stadium, West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets thanks to a brilliant exhibition of power hitting from openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis.
As the host team amassed a commanding 179 for seven in their 20 overs, Sri Lanka’s skipper, Charith Asalanka, and Kamindu Mendis both struck half-centuries after losing the toss and being sent in to bat.
But King and Lewis, who were named player of the match, hammered Sri Lanka’s bowlers all over the park in a 107-run partnership, which allowed the visitors to reach 180 for five in 19.1 overs.
During their 10-over collaboration, King and Lewis never dropped below the required scoring pace of nine runs each over.
King kept up the pace by smashing fast bowler Asitha Fernando for three boundaries in the following over after Lewis had smashed fast bowler Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and a four with the final two deliveries of the first over.
King liked Fernando and helped the Windies reach 45 without loss after four overs by hitting him for two more fours in his second – and his fourth of the innings.
West Indies achieved the highest Power Play total at the ground, 74 without loss, after spinner Maheesh Theekshana was hammered for a six and two fours in the sixth over.
In the ninth over, King hammered Matheesha Pathirana over midwicket for six and again past mid-off for four, soaring to his half-century off 25 balls.
As the Windies rushed to 107 without loss after nine overs, Lewis reached his 50 off 27 balls in the following over by hitting leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga over far off and midwicket for two soaring sixes.
When he had Wickramasinghe catch Lewis at short thirdman for an even fifty, Pathirana made the breakthrough for Sri Lanka. He faced 28 balls and hit four sixes and five fours overall.
After his dismissal, the West Indies slumped to 128 for three in the 12th over, with King falling for 63 from 33 balls, including 11 boundaries and one six, after his offside heave off Kamindu Mendis ballooned into the onside for Kusal Perera to take an easy catch. Shai Hope had only scored seven before giving Hasaranga a straightforward return catch.
Before Powell took out the long on fielder after reaching 13, captain Rovman Powell and Roston Chase scored 32 runs for the fourth wicket.
Thirteen runs were needed from 13 balls when Chase put Pathirana behind and was out for 19.
To bring the Windies within sight of their objective, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd batted sensibly. The former duly ended the contest by slicing Pathirana over midoff for four off the first ball of the last over.
Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis had earlier saved Sri Lanka after they had fallen to 58 for three in the ninth over.
Pathum Nissanka was removed by Shepherd for 11, Kusal Perera was bowled for six by Shamar Joseph, and Kusal Mendis reached 19 before Gudakesh Motie clean bowled him.
However, Kamindu Mendis and Asalanka combined for an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which turned the tide of the contest in the home team’s favor.
When rookie Shamar Springer got Mendis caught at deep backward square by Chase for 51 off 40 balls, he broke the silence.
Asalanka reached the top score of 59, but just as he was about to ramp up, Lewis expertly caught him at far on off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling, leaving the score at 163 for five.
Then, in order to avoid having a strong finish to their innings, Sri Lanka lost three wickets for twelve, including two in the last over.