Sri Lanka is doing well. It’s true that most of their wins have been at home, but recently, they have struggled even there. So, this series win will definitely give them a lot of confidence. They have momentum now and are using it well. A strong Sri Lankan team is good for international cricket because they play exciting matches.
Their opponents, who lost the series after winning the first game, struggled with their spinners being outplayed by Hasaranga and his team. That was probably the biggest difference. But it’s a good lesson for the West Indies team, which is still young.
That’s all for this series, but we’ll bring you more action soon. See you later! Bye for now!
Charith Asalanka: Our top-order batted really well, and because of that, the whole team performed great. This includes not just this series but also the one against India. We needed some momentum, and we got it in the second game of this series. I wasn’t too worried because Nissanka and Mendis made a plan, and it worked. I’m really happy with the win and want to thank every Sri Lankan cricket fan.
Rovman Powell: To be honest, we had enough runs. At the start, we would have taken 160 on a turning pitch. If we had managed the powerplay better, we could have made a comeback. Sri Lanka’s spinners completely outplayed ours. Still, there were a lot of positives. My team gave a good effort in tough conditions, and our batters did well. Thanks to the people of Sri Lanka for being so welcoming.
Pathum Nissanka | Player of the Series: I had a plan going in, and the powerplays were crucial. It’s important to keep a clear mind when playing across three formats. (Translated from Sinhalese by Roshan Abeysinghe)
Kusal Mendis | Player of the Match: I think I played really well, and Nissanka batted well in the first six overs. I could plan better because the wicket was a little slow, and I knew how to handle it. We tried to play normal cricket in the first six overs. It was tough playing spin on this pitch.
The Sri Lankan openers had a clear plan and executed it perfectly. Nissanka started strong, and Mendis soon followed. Mendis and Perera both scored fifties, and Sri Lanka stayed in control of the game. Earlier, Sri Lanka lost a bit of control with the ball when Powell and Motie played some quick cameos, giving the West Indies a challenging total to defend. But the Lankan batters showed great control and easily chased down the target. While the pitch seemed slow at first, it looked easier to bat on when the hosts took the field.
This is a big boost for the young Sri Lankan team. It’s the first time they’ve beaten the West Indies in a T20I series at home. Sanath Jayasuriya, originally brought in as an interim mentor, is staying on, which is great news for the team. They’ve looked strong and united in home conditions.
Local Time: 22:13: Sri Lanka, considered the underdogs after their loss in the first game, have made an impressive comeback. They were also seen as dark horses during the ODI series against India and in the Tests against England. But this team knows how to bounce back. Let’s not forget they also beat New Zealand at home in Tests. 2024 seems to be a turning point for them, as this is their fifth series win at home in this format. The West Indies will be disappointed, especially after fighting well with the bat. But they couldn’t handle Nissanka and Mendis in the powerplay, and after Sri Lanka scored 60 runs in the powerplay, the rest of the chase was easy.