West Indies bounce back after one-dayers to stifle Sri Lanka in the first of three T20s Bowlers step up to expose Sri Lanka batting depth. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).

West Indies bounce back after one-dayers to stifle Sri Lanka in the first of three T20s Bowlers step up to expose Sri Lanka batting depth. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).

Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka’s top order batting to pave the way for an easy West Indies run chase as they cruised to a seven-wicket win in the first T20 at Sabina Park in Kingston Jamaica.

A challenging pitch with uneven bounce tested the batters of both sides, and the Windies bowlers, familiar with the conditions, used it to take the sting out of Sri Lanka’s batting as they stumbled to an under par 147 for 9 in their allotment. 

It resurfaced Sri Lanka’s concerns about batting woes in the lower order and will no doubt be a project for new coach Gary Kirstan to address going forward. 

Sri Lanka’s inability with the bat to recover and fightback when their backs are against the wall highlights a growing concern that has been unresolved and needs serious focus.

It also challenges the depth of their allround capability in the middle and lower order and has been identified by most opposition as an area they exploit. 

So the question around overlooking a proven performer and selectively dismissed Charith Asalanka for this format, and it raises eyebrows among many about his exclusion. From inside reports, the targeted ex-skipper is now reported to be not upto T20 requirements.

West Indies chased down the target with four balls to spare but were always in control of a gettable run chase.

Pathum Nissanka batted with his natural freedom like he usually does,  and with skipper Kusal Mendis they raced to 43 when Holder got through him with a beauty to bowl him for 18.

Holder with his proven experience grabbed 3 for 18 in a devastating spell and Joseph 3 for 29 to stifle any chance of a Sri Lankan run spree.

Things didn’t get better for Sri Lanka when debutante Lasith Croospulle departed soon after, trapped in front for a duck, falling to Holder and Pavan Rathnayake trying to establish his place in the line-up followed  to Shamar Joseph to caught by Hetymeyer to leave Sri Lanka’s batting in tatters at 49 for 3.

When Kusal Mendis, who was in threatening form racing to 36 off 23 balls soon joined the procession with the total on 65, only his deputy Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 51 off 39 balls, and to a lesser extent Dasun Shanaka, 22 off 23 balls stood between a reasonable target and disaster. 

Chasing a gettable target, West Indies launched into Sri Lanka’s bowlers led by Skipper Shai Hope and they never looked like being in trouble of negotiating the target before them

Brandon King, 37 off 22 balls, and skipper Shai Hope 65 off 54 deliveries smashed Sri Lanka’s attack with a 67- run opening stand to set the stage for a successful chase and they were never troubled until victory was achieved. 

Sri Lanka’s 1-0 one-day series triumph thanks to the weather Gods intervention in the final two games due to abandonment, is not something to be too excited about.

So, the ongoing best-of-three series points to a riveting contest as the pieces on the board are re- calibrated for the two games ahead.