Sri Lanka clinches historic T20I series win over West Indies

The West Indies lost their first T20 series against Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the third and final match in Dambulla to lose the series 2-1.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera powered their team to a historic T20I series win with the duo producing unbeaten half-centuries which helped their team comfortably chase the target of 163, sealing the match in 18 overs at 166 for one.

West Indies, chose to bat first and got off to a rocky start when Maheesh Theekshana bowled Evin Lewis with the fourth delivery for a duck.

Brandon King had gotten to 23 alongside Shai Hope, but Theekshana struck again in the sixth over, deceiving King into the middle stump.

Roston Chase gifted a return catch to Kamindu Mendis for eight, while Hope was sent off after a sharp low catch by Pathum Nissanka for 18.

West Indies found themselves in further trouble in the 12th over when Charith Asalanka removed Sherfane Rutherford for six, with the side stumbling at 62 for five.

West Indies’ captain Rovman Powell plays a shot during the third and final Twenty20 international cricket match between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Oct. 17, 2024.Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images

Captain Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Motie hammered 25 runs off a Wellalage over, which included three sixes and a four. However, Wanindu Hasaranga quickly dismissed Motie, stumped for 32 off 15 balls.

Late contributions from Powell 37 and Romario Shepherd 18 took the West Indies total to 162-8, as they got 39 runs of the final three overs.

However, Sri Lanka’s response was ruthless as openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis smashed 50 runs in just 4.1 overs.

Alzarri Joseph leaked 15 runs in the second over, and despite Motie claiming Nissanka’s wicket for 39.

Kusal Perera joined Mendis in the sixth over, and the pair put on an unbeaten series-winning partnership of 106.

Mendis reaching his half-century in 37 balls and Perera following suit off 34 deliveries.

Mendis hit five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten knock of 68 from 50 balls. Perera, scored 55 not out from 36 balls with seven fours, sealed the victory in the 18th over with a boundary, completing an eight-wicket win.