Sri Lanka’s batters run riot in historic series triumph over West Indies. Nissanka, Mendis and Perera destroy Windies defiance. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka found their mojo and restored lost pride with a comprehensive 9 -wicket thrashing of the West Indies in game three while recording a first ever T20 series triumph over an adversary that has prevailed over them previously.
Dambulla has now become a venue that Sri Lanka have found recent success, beating New Zealand in the Tests now a successful T20 series at home.
Charith Asalanka’s men will be satisfied with this turnaround in fortunes which has been concerning over the recent past in the T20 format.
After the comprehensive comeback win in game two, Sri Lanka faced sterner opposition from the quick learning Carribbean team who batted first and set a competitive target of 162 for the loss of 8 wickets.
But Sri Lanka’s top order were on song smashing a hapless West Indian attack to all parts as they raced to the target with 12 balls to spare.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis led the charge in cavalier fashion before Nissanka fell for 39 off 22 balls with the total on 60 off 5.2 overs.
This brought the two Kusal’s, Mendis and Perera together, and they continued to plunder runs at will, spraying the West Indian attack in express mode.
Nissanka slammed 39 off 22 balls, Mendis 64 not out off 50 balls and Perera unbeaten on 55 off 36 balls to complete the demolition job.
The win breathes a new lease of life into Sri Lanka dwindling fortunes in this format and further backs the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as head coach following the resignation of Englishman Chris Silverwood.
Jayasuriya’s no nonsense approach and emphasis on ‘perform or depart’ message appears to have had a definite impact in Sri Lanka’s allround upliftment and has addressed what appeared to be a overconfident and complacent mindset previously.
For it to be viewed as a new chapter, Sri Lanka need to be consistent and win games away from home as well. Their track record away against the top tier has not been great recently.
West Indies looked again like they were victims of game two at the outset when Sri Lanka’s spinners, led this time by Maheesh Theekshana, made early inroads into the top order. Theekshana removed first game heroes Brandon King and Evin Lewis with the score on 5 and 42 and then the Windies slid to 5 for 62 in 11.1 overs in what seemed like a repeat of their last match.
Bur skipper Rovman Powell joined Laudakesh Motie to steady the ship batting aggressively to pull them out of a rut. Powell 37 off 27 with 3 sixers and 1 four and Motie 32 off 15 with 3 sixers and 1 four resurrected the innings to give them a reasonable target.
Apart from Dinuth Wellalage whose dream debut in game two with the ball, the rest of Sri Lanka’s bowlers combined to contain the Windies batters. Wellalage went wicketless but Theekshana, Hasaranga, skipper Asalanka and the rest struck in succession to fill in the void.
