In the last Twenty20 International, Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by nine wickets, winning the three-match series 2-1. Sri Lanka has never won over the West Indies in a Twenty20 international series. West Indies scored 162 runs for 8 wickets while batting first. Sri Lanka responded by reaching the target in 18 overs with 1 wicket loss.
Sri Lanka had a great start
Mendis gave Sri Lanka an early lead with Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka scored 39 runs off of 22 balls as the two scored for 60 runs in 5.2 overs. Nissanka was dismissed by Gudakesh Moti.
Kusal Perera and Mendis took up the inning after Nissanka left. Perera reached his 15th T20 International half century with an unbroken 55 off 36 balls. With an unbroken stand of 106 runs, Mendis and Perera led Sri Lanka to defeat the West Indies in a series that will go down in history.
Spinner proved to be the trump card
The first team to bat, the West Indies, had immediate challenges. West Indies lost five wickets for 68 runs at one point. But the visiting team was aided by a vital partnership of 54 runs in 26 balls between captain Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Moti. Hasaranga shattered this partnership.
The series started with a five-wicket victory for the West Indies, but Sri Lanka attached a strong comeback with a 73-run victory in the second match, topping a fantastic time for the Sri Lankan team under new head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. Once again, their spin department proved to be their greatest asset. Mahesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed two wickets each.
Sri Lanka is writing its own chapter in history
The team has won a number of major matches in the past three months, including an ODI series victory over India after 27 years, a Test match win in England after ten years, and a historic two-test win against New Zealand earlier this month—their first in fifteen years.