Russell blitz gives Windies series sweep

A tight performance in the field restricted Sri Lanka to 155/6 before forties from Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer and Andre Russell saw West Indies comfortably over the line.

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Oshane Thomas again made the early breakthrough, bowling Avishka Fernando with his third ball. Shehan Jayasuriya and Kusal Perera battled their way to the end of the Powerplay without further alarm, but Fabian Allen removed both with consecutive deliveries to put the visitors back on top.

Sri Lanka struggled to score freely, and Dwayne Bravo's first over brought the wicket of Kusal Mendis, caught at deep square leg, and Angelo Mathews, who ran himself out for 23. Cottrell removed the dangerous Wanindu Hasaranga for 8 before Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka provided some much-needed late impetus to the innings, adding 46 in the last 3.5 overs to lift the hosts to 155/6.

Lendl Simmons failed to replicate his success from the first T20I, where he had scored 67*, and was bowled by a slower ball from Mathews in the third over. But Brandon King, in his eighth T20I, took charge, and smashed 43 from 19 balls in the Powerplay.

His dismissal two balls later did little to stop West Indies though, as Shimron Hetmyer played an anchor role, building steadily with Rovman Powell until the latter was caught on the rope by Jayasuriya.

That brought Andre Russell to the crease, who immediately announced his intentions, hitting his second and third balls faced over the rope. His innings continued in the same vein, while Hetmyer kept things steady at the other end. Russell finished things off by depositing Mathews over the rope for his sixth six, ending unbeaten on 40 from just 14 balls, while Hetmyer finished on 43* from 42.

West Indies 158 for 3 (King 43, Hetmyer 43*, Russell 40*) beat Sri Lanka 155 for 6 (Shanaka 31*, Allen 2-24) by 7 wickets