West Indies clinched a series win with a five-wicket victory in the decider at Sabina Park, Jamaica, on June 15. After Shamar Joseph's fifer restricted them to 169, Sherfane Rutherford's patient unbeaten 40-ball 54 and Jason Holder's cameo helped West Indies win the third T20I by five wickets with two balls to spare.
Sri Lanka fail to finish well as Shamar strikes
In the decider clash, Shai Hope won the toss and opted to field first. Matthew Forde got skipper Kushal Mendis out caught and bowled with his third ball. Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka were using the fielding restrictions well. In the sixth over, Joseph was brought into the attack and he struck twice to dismiss Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake off consecutive deliveries. Nissanka scored 26 runs from 27 balls. In the 10th over, Mishara got out lbw by Roston Chase. Akeal Hosein got into the act and send Kamindu Mendis back to pavilion. Kamindu scored 20 runs from 15 balls.
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Just when Sri Lanka were looking to accelerate, Holder knocked over Dasun Shanaka. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage looked to attack. In the 17th over, Wellalage hit Joseph for four fours. In the penultimate over, Hasaranga was run out for a 13-ball 21. Joseph wreaked havoc in the final over. The pacer dismissed Wellalage and Dushmantha Chameera off consecutive deliveries. He couldn't take a hat-trick but finished the innings with Maheesh Theekshana's wicket. Joseph became the ninth bowler to take a fifer in T20Is. He is also the second West Indies bowler to take a fifer against Sri Lanka in T20Is.
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Slow start, Rutherford-Powell set up run chase
In the run chase, Hope got bowled for a golden duck by left-arm spinner Wellalage. No boundary was scored in first three overs. Shimron Hetmyer broke the shackles with a four and a six off Chameera. After powerplay overs, West Indies were 51/1. Hasaranga was introduced into the attack and he got the wicket of Brandon King. The opener scored just 16 runs from 20 balls. Then, Theekshana knocked over Ackeem Auguste. West Indies suffered a mini-collapse as Hasaranga got Hetmyer caught at long-on for a 19-ball 32. At the halfway stage, West Indies were 64/4.
Rutherford pushed the scoring rate in the middle overs. He hit Wellalage for two consecutive sixes. In the 14th over, Eshan Malinga created a chance. Rutherford top-edged but Malinga dropped the catch near short mid-wicket. In last five overs, West Indies needed 70 runs. In the 17th over, Rovman Powell hit Chameera for two sixes. The pacer conceded 24 runs in the over but managed to break the partnership with Powell's wicket. He scored 33 runs from 27 balls.
Holder steals the show
In the last two overs, 29 runs were needed. Chameera was given the ball again and Holder smashed him for three sixes. After the 23-run over, Rutherford finished the run chase with two balls to spare. Rutherford scored 54 runs from 40 deliveries, featuring three fours and four sixes.
Joseph was named 'Player of the match' and 'Player of the series'. He claimed 11 wickets in the series at an average of 8.55, including a fifer in the decider.