Top order bats and bowlers fail again as Sri Lanka lose to Windies

By Dhammika Ratnaweera

West Indies may have suffered a whitewash in the ODI series, but they are on a real top-notch when it comes to the shortest format as they showed excellent team effort to take the 1-0 lead at Pallekele by beating Sri Lanka by 25 runs. No wonder the Caribbeans have won the T20 World Cup twice since it’s inception and showed that they are still the favourites to win the title with their experienced side.

After West Indies made 196 for four wickets in their 20 overs, Sri Lanka got off to a disappointing start as paceman Oshane Thomas ran through their batting order, taking five wickets in the power play  (56 for five wickets and also missed hat trick). Kusal Janith Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga kept Lankan hopes alive with their 87-run stand, but once that came to an end, it was only a matter of time.

The West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard who played his 500 T-20 game also passed the ten thousand runs at T-20’s made memorable one for his career. Pollard said “It’s good to win. It was a total team effort. The batting foundation was laid by the openers Simmons and King. Young paceman Oshane was brilliant. This is his second game since he’s back. His work is showing. He executed his plans really well. In the T20s the guys have shown us their skills. Powell was the unsung hero with the ball.” He further said that he would tell the plans against Kusal Perera after the next game.

The 23-year-old right-arm paceman Oshane Thomas was adjudged man of the match with his best figures of 5 for 28 in his three-over spell. Thomas said  It’s a great feeling to be back in the Windies side and winning. I was trying to bowl hard lengths and trying to keep it straight, not giving the batsman any room. Our plan was to bowl short and it was working this game. In fact, Oshane’s bowling figures was the third best at Pallekele. Off-spinner Ajantha Mendis took T-20  best figures at Pallekele 6 for 16 against Australia in 2011.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga said that the top order batsmen failed to deliver in an important run chase. “We lost five wickets  5 for 56 at power play early but we need to come back strongly in the next match. Kusal Janith and Wanidu Hasaranga made superb 87 runs stand to come back strongly but opponent bowlers never gave chance to reach our target” said Malinga.

“With the dew, it’s hard to bowl in such conditions. We needed partnerships but we didn’t get that. That never helps. Anyway, we are looking forward to coming back strongly in the next game on 6th” added Malinga.

Best bowling figures for West Indies (T20I):