If not for captain Kieron Pollard’s six sixes off Akila Dananjaya’s over, Sri Lanka would have won the first T20I as well. Nonetheless, the visitors made a great comeback in the second T20I to level the 3-match series 1-1. Now it is all down the third and final T20I of the series on Sunday (Mar 07) to decide the trophy!
Going into the match, Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in Lakshan Sandakan for Nuwan Pradeep while hosts West Indies are unchanged. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Visitors backed their strengths even though West Indies successfully chased down a target in the first T20I.
Openers gave Sri Lanka a flying start adding 95 runs for the first wicket – Danushka Gunathilaka (56) and Pathum Nissanka (37). Once both the openers departed in the 11th over, the scoring-rate declined and Sri Lanka ended with a score of 160/6 in 20 overs. Among WI bowlers, DJ Bravo bagged 2 wickets while McCoy and Holder shared a wicket apiece.
The target looked to be just par with West Indies boasting a strong line-up for this chase. However, a poor batting display cost them the match! Only one among their top 7 batsmen managed to cross the 20-mark – Lendl Simmons – 21. Four single-digit scores in the top 7 didn’t help their cause either. Overall, Obed McCoy (23) top-scored for West Indies as they are bowled out for 117 in 18.4 overs conceding Sri Lanka a 43-run victory in this match.
Akila Dananjya who conceded six sixes in the first T20I bowled very economically in this match – 1/13 in 4 overs. On the other hand, Wanindu Hasaranga and Lakshan Sandakan bagged 3 wickets each in this series-leveling victory. Hasaranga also scored an unbeaten 19* runs off 11 balls including 3 fours. The all-round show both with the bat and the ball helped him bag the ‘Player of the Match’ award in this match.
The 3-match series is now level 1-1 with one match to go. On a lighter note, the winner in the third match will take the trophy home. The third T20I of the series is scheduled to be played on Sunday (Mar 07) at the same venue that hosted the first two T20Is – Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka – 160/6 in 20 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka – 56, Pathum Nissanka – 36, Dwayne Bravo – 2/25, Obed McCoy – 1/34) defeated West Indies – 117 all out in 18.4 overs (Obed McCoy – 23, Lendl Simmons – 21, Lakshan Sandakan – 3/10, Wanindu Hasaranga – 3/17) by a margin of 43 runs
0 Comments