Earlier, Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka helped the visitors put up full competitiveness.
Sri Lanka Hit 160 (Gunathilaka 56, Nissanka 37, Bravo 2-25) West Indies 117 (McCoy 23, Sandakan 3-10, Hasaranga 3-17) with 43 runs
The Sri Lankan spinners made a decisive 43-run win over the West Indies in Antigua to keep the three-game series alive and end an eight-game losing streak in the T20Is.
On a slow surface, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Lakshan Sandakan proved a fistful – building seven wickets between them, the latter two building three wickets – as Sri Lanka easily defended the total number of 160 of them. That was the control of Sri Lankan spinners, even part-time player Danushka Gunathilaka getting into the act, picking up Jason Holder’s wicket.
In fact, 68 of the 117 runs that were the last gathered guests came off two Sri Lankan fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Thisara Perera; 41 of these were taken from two Perera scenes alone.
But while the final edge of the impact suggested full control of the visitors, at the halfway point they would have felt a 15-20 short run considering their start.
Gunathilaka, in particular, was deeply involved, continuing the form he saw at the top of the running charts at the Lanka Premier League a few months ago. His 56 runs came from 42 deliveries and included four fours and two sixes, but it was his control throughout that was so impressive that he rarely had to take risks. to collect his runs.
Along with him was Pathum Nissanka – one of the few bright sparks for the visitors from the first T20I – keeping the scoreboard ticking while the pair put 56 inside the powerplay and 94 in the first ten petals. But the middle order again failed to get anything out as the next ten petals only had 66 runs. In fact it was only the late 11-ball 19 out of Player of the Match Hasaranga who saw Sri Lanka even control the score they made – one that proved enough in the end.
Full report to follow