After two ODIs were abandoned due to rain, West Indies started the T20I series with a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka on a tricky surface at Sabina Park, Jamaica. Despite Kamindu Mendis' half-century, Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph's three-fers restricted Sri Lanka to 147/9. In the run chase, Sri Lanka slower down in the middle overs but skipper Shai Hope's unbeaten 54-ball 65 took them over the line with four balls to spare.
Holder, Joseph deflate Sri Lanka batting lineup
Kusal Mendis won the toss and opted to bat first. After four overs, Sri Lanka were 39 for no loss. Then, Holder was introduced into the attack and he delivered with wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Lasith Croospulle off consecutive balls. In the next over, Joseph leaked boundaries but got Pavan Rathnayake out. In his next over, he got the better of skipper Mendis who scored 36 runs from 23 balls. Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka got the innings back on track in the middle overs.
The partnership was broken by Roston Chase with Shanaka's wicket in the 16th over. The former Sri Lanka captain managed to score 22 runs from 23 balls. Joseph returned to dismiss Wanindu Hasaranga for a single-digit score. In the penultimate over, Holder got the wicket of Matheesha Pathirana. In the final over, Kamindu got to his half-century from 36 balls. He got run out trying to sneak a second run. His 39-ball 51 featured four fours and a couple of sixes. On the last ball, Dushmantha Chameera was run out as well. The visitors posted 147/9.
King, Hope dominate powerplay overs
In the run chase, West Indies got a boost with a 17-run third over. Dishan Madushanka was all over the place against Hope and Brandon King. King punished Dushmantha Chameera too, hitting him for a couple of sixes in the fifth over. West Indies were 66/0 after powerplay overs with required run rate brought down to less than six runs per over. After the fielding restrictions were lifted, Hasaranga knocked over King who scored 37 runs from 22 balls. Shimron Hetmyer hit two fours and a six in his nine-ball 17 before becoming Hasaranga's second victim of the evening.
T20 turns into traditional ODI
What followed were seven boundary-less overs. At the end of 16th over, Chase was batting on 10 off 23 balls. Hope had scored 28 runs from 16 balls in powerplay overs. After the 16th over, he was batting on 55 off 43 balls. Chase tried to accelerate, hitting Malinga for a six. But, the very next ball he was knocked over. He managed to score just 16 runs from 26 balls. In the final over, six runs were needed. On the second ball, Rovman Powell hit Madushanka for a six to finish the run chase. Hope remained unbeaten for a 54-ball 65.
Holder wins POTM
Holder was named ‘Player of the match’ for taking three wickets for just 18 runs in his quota of four overs. The second T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on June 13.