Dambulla, Sri Lanka- Despite counterattacking knocks from captain Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Motie, the West Indies went down by nine wickets to hosts Sri Lanka in the third and final T20 international at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Thursday 17th October.
Electing to bat, the West Indies recovered from a precarious 62 for 5 in the 12th over to post a competitive 162 for 8.
After losing Evin Lewis in the first over, Brandon King 23 and Shai Hope 18 added 37 for the second wicket before the former departed.
There was a mini collapse with Hope, Roston Chase (8), and Sherfane Rutherford (6) falling in the space of two overs.
However, skipper Powell who became only the seventh West Indian to score 1500 runs in T20 internationals, cracked one four and three towering sixes in his topscore of 37 off 27 balls.
Motie who was promoted, hammered three sixes and a four in his 32 off 15 balls as he and Powell rescued the innings with a 54 run sixth wicket stand.
Motie took a liking to Dunith Wellalage, as he smashed 24 runs in the 15th over off the left-arm spinner to lead the resurgence of the innings.
Romario Shepherd then had a six and a four in his 18 from 13 balls to take the Caribbean men up to their final score of 162 for 8.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana claimed two wickets each for the hosts.
In the run chase, Sri Lanka were off to a flying start with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis racing to 60 inside five overs.
Gudakesh Motie provided a moment of inspiration for the visitors when he dislodged Nissanka for 39.
However, Mendis who was named player of the match and Kusal Perera denied the West Indies any further hope in an unbroken 106 run second wicket stand.
Mendis carved five fours and three sixes in his top score of 68 from 50 balls, while Perera recorded seven fours in his unbeaten 55 to take Sri Lanka over the line at 166 for 1 with 12 balls to spare.
Head Coach Daren Sammy said the players can take belief from the series.
“I told the guys that what it did was that we sent a strong message, that we started the series one way with a squad looking to test the depth, then the home side had to change the conditions in a bid to help their spinners.”
Sammy also added:
“For us to see the nature of the wicket, the way it was in the last two games, I thought we actually won the contest because we were the away team, and the conditions set before us we challenged them with a squad that was not our full squad and they had to react to that”.
It was Sri Lanka’s first bilateral T20 series win over the West Indies who were suffering only a second series defeat since March 2023.
The teams now turn their attention to the first of three T20 internationals at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Sunday.