SRI LANKA VS WEST INDIES , 2ND T20I, DAMBULLA: Sri Lankan Spinners Demolish West Indies’ Batting Fortress To Level T20I Series .
In the second T20I, Sri Lanka came roaring back to beat the West Indies by a healthy margin of 73 runs and levelled up at 1-1. The hosts were powered by a 50 from Pathum Nissanka which helped them get to 162 for five but on an offering turn, the Sri Lankans spun a web. Sri Lankan Spinners Demolish West Indies’ Batting Fortress To Level T20I Series .
TOSS-
Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat.
TEAMS LINE UP-
Sri Lanka (Playing XI):
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga,Dunith Wellalage,Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana,N Thushara.
West Indies (Playing XI):
Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher(w), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford,Rovman Powell(c), Romario Shepherd,, Shamar Springer Alzarri Joseph Gudakesh Motie and Shamar Joseph.
SRI LANKA-
Sri Lanka had won a decent toss and no sooner decided to bat, but the openers did not trouble the scorers as they were 8 for none after three overs. But then Shamar Joseph was lashed for 25 in the second over, with four of five boundaries struck by Pathum Nissanka getting things back on track.
Nissanka got a six off Gudakesh Motie and then the same from his partner, Kusal Mendis to take hosts 50-plus within PowerPlay. And things appeared to further unravel for the visitors as Shamar Springer bowled a 13-run over that included six wides and Nissanka was given an early life by Roston Chase. However Springer was destined to see off touch of more balls, and for this endeared Kusal Mendis to toe-end one long-on.
Kusal Perera smashed three boundaries off Chase as the in-form side reached 100 with seven overs to spare. This time, though the left-hander was out soon after as he played across to Shamar and had one go past his inside edge which appealed for LBW what looked plumb. Nissanka then completed his fifty with a single, but had to go when Joseph took one that shaped in and kissed the pad before thudding into the stumps. Kamindu Mendis played a handful contribution with 19 (14) on display as an opener and Wanindu Hasaranga recapped Sri Lankan innings by cashing in four runs right down the ground exposing to West Indians who let him off two balls earlier .
WEST INDIES-
With spin anticipated to play a role early on, debutant Dunith Wellalage prised out Brandon King for the last game’s player-of-the-match with just three runs and he was left stranded off well away from his crease to be stumped by Kusal behind the wickets. Brace let to Evin Lewis getting trapped LBW trying to sweep Maheesh Theekshana before Chase was bowled by Wellalage a few balls later
The pitch here offered 3.8 degrees of turn, compared to only 1.8 in the first T20I — and thereafter it was time for Andre Fletcher to perish next as Wellalage depth-striked caramelised sugar full over ball shock banana skin-ing… his third wicket fell thus! Amidst the storm, 37 balls passed without a boundary to, but Sherfane Rutherford combined handsomness with elbow power as he hit Kamindu over covers for a four. And had them advancing further when skipper Charith Asalanka also accounted for Gudakesh Motie and Sherfane Rutherford in an over.
A couple of overs later, Wanindu Hasaranga bagged the wickets of Romario Shepherd and Springer. Rovman Powell struck the first six of the innings in a 23-run stand with Joseph. Matheesha Pathirana needed just one ball to send him packing as Theekshana rounded it off with a classic carrom-ball to get rid of Alzarri Joseph.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 162/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 54, Kusal Mendis 26; Romario Shepherd two-23) beat West Indies eighty-nine all out n sixteen overs .