Sri Lanka’s gamble backfires, Windies win T20 series

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis’ decision not to have the best in-form strike bowler Eshan Malinga bowl the last lover backfired as the West Indies batting pair of Jason Holder and Sherfane Rutherford smashed off the required 35 runs within the last three overs chasing a 169 target in the third and deciding T20 match at Kingston Jamaica yesterday.

The West Indies won the series 2-1 as Holder cracked 21 in just five balls after the experienced fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera conceded 64 runs in his four overs with 46 runs of it plundered in his 17th and 19th overs that put the home team on the path to victory.

Malinga in contrast conceded just 30 runs in his four overs while Wanindu Hasaranga took two wickets for 17 runs while also finishing off his quota of four overs.

Rutherford top scored for the home team with an unbeaten 54 that had four sixes.

Sri Lanka’s top order batting on yet another occasion failed to make headway as Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 5 and the hero of the second match Dasun Shanaka contributed just 16 and it fell on the shoulders of the bowler Dunith Wellalage to top score with 43 that pushed Sri Lanka to 168 all out in the last ball of the 20th over.

Wellalage struck six fours and a six and made his 43 in just 28 balls and together with Hasaranga (21) put on 49 runs for the seventh wicket, the highest partnership in the innings. 

For the record Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka was a failure by his record, out for scores of 18, 7 and 26 while Pavan Ratnayake on whom much was touted aggregated just five runs in three matches.

Scores:

Sri Lanka 168 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 26, Kamil Mishara 28, Kamindu Mendis 20, Dasun Shanaka 16, Dunith Wellalage 43, Wanindu Hasaranga 21, Shamar Joseph 5 for 33)

West Indies 170 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Brandon King 16, Shimron Hetmyer 32, Rovman Powell 33, Sherfane Rutherford 54 not out, Jason Holder 21 not out, Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 17, Dunith Wellalage 1 for 23, Dushmantha Chameera 1 for 64, Maheesh Theekshana 1 for 26, Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 17)

West Indies win series 2-1