1st T20I
Brandon King and Evin Lewis has powered the West Indies team to a victory
Sri Lanka scored 179/7 in 20 overs, where as West Indies scored 180/5 in 19.1 overs.
So, finally West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets.
West Indies clinched the opening T20I by five wickets against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
Brandon King (63) and Evin Lewis (50) led the charge with a commanding 107-run partnership for the first wicket, chasing a target of 179.
Despite brisk half-centuries from Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka for the hosts, their efforts fell short.
Sri Lanka, put in to bat, got off to a cautious start with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis managing just 11 runs in the first two overs.
Nissanka shifted gears in the third, striking consecutive boundaries off Romario Shepherd, but was caught behind by Shai Hope on the next ball.
Kusal Perera hit a boundary but was soon bowled by Shamar Joseph.
Kamindu Mendis, in excellent form, entered the fray and got going with a boundary.
Kusal Mendis added a four and a six off Alzarri Joseph, while Kamindu struck two more boundaries as Sri Lanka reached 54 for 2 by the end of the Power Play.
A quiet over from Roston Chase set up Kusal’s dismissal, as he missed a cut shot and was bowled by Gudakesh Motie.
Charith Asalanka joined Kamindu and counter-attacked with three boundaries in the 12th over.
Kamindu reached his second T20I fifty but fell soon after, caught in the deep while attempting a pull shot.
Asalanka brought up his half-century with two more boundaries before being caught at deep midwicket.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s quickfire 17 off 10 deliveries pushed Sri Lanka to a competitive 179 for 7.
West Indies began their chase explosively.
Evin Lewis launched Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and a four, while King hammered three boundaries off Asitha Fernando.
The pair raced to a 50-run stand in just 4.4 overs, with a costly 16-run sixth over propelling West Indies to 74 for 0 by the end of the Power Play.
King raised his fifty with a six and a four off Pathirana, while Lewis followed suit with two massive sixes off Hasaranga.
Lewis eventually fell to a low catch at backward point.
Sri Lanka fought back with the quick dismissals of Shai Hope and King across two overs.
The scoring rate slowed as Chase and Rovman Powell struggled to keep up the momentum.
However, a crucial 16th over yielded 12 runs, giving West Indies a late boost.
Powell’s rusty innings ended with a catch in the deep, while Chase edged behind to Pathirana.
With 13 needed off the final two overs, West Indies ran their twos aggressively before Sherfane Rutherford sealed the victory with a boundary, with four balls to spare.
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