In a highly anticipated clash at Dambulla, West Indies emerged victorious in the 1st T20I of their tour of Sri Lanka, defeating the hosts by 5 wickets with 5 balls remaining. The match, which took place under lights at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, saw standout performances from Brandon King and Evin Lewis, propelling West Indies to chase down Sri Lanka’s competitive total of 179/7 in 19.1 overs.
After being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a strong total of 179/7. Despite losing wickets early in the powerplay, with both Pathum Nissanka (11) and Kusal Perera (6) falling cheaply, the hosts regrouped thanks to a steadying partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka.
Kamindu Mendis played a vital role, scoring a well-constructed 51 off 40 balls, while captain Charith Asalanka displayed his attacking prowess with a brilliant knock of 59 from just 35 deliveries, which included 9 boundaries. Their partnership helped propel Sri Lanka to a strong position, reaching 140/4 in the 16th over.
However, late wickets, including the dismissals of Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (17), halted Sri Lanka’s momentum. The West Indies bowlers, led by Romario Shepherd (2/39) and Shamar Joseph (1/27), managed to restrict the hosts, preventing them from breaching the 180-run mark.
West Indies started their chase with fireworks, courtesy of a sensational innings from Brandon King. King, who was named Player of the Match, smashed a rapid 63 off just 33 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six, giving the visitors the perfect platform in the powerplay. His 107-run opening stand with Evin Lewis, who contributed 50 off 28 balls, saw West Indies storm to 100 inside the first 9 overs.
Although Sri Lanka fought back with wickets in the middle overs, including the crucial dismissals of King and Lewis, the West Indies middle order ensured that there were no further hiccups. Rovman Powell (13), Roston Chase (19), and Sherfane Rutherford (14*) all contributed valuable runs, steering their team towards the target.
Matheesha Pathirana was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, claiming 2/27, but his efforts weren’t enough to stop West Indies from securing the win. With just 5 runs required from the final over, Romario Shepherd hit the winning runs, sealing the game with 5 balls to spare.
