there it is - history for Sri Lanka! They have beaten the West Indies for the first time in a bilateral T20I series, and Dambulla erupts! A clinical and comprehensive run-chase to knock the wind out of the West Indies' sails! Dug into the track but this sits up around the hips. KJP swivels and smears it past short fine leg. All smiles in the Sri Lankan camp; Daren Sammy and his think-tank, meanwhile, cannot believe how they have been so thoroughly outplayed!
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 3rd T20I at Dambulla, Sri Lanka vs West Indies, Oct 17 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd T20I (N), Dambulla, October 17, 2024, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka
162/8
(18/20 ov, T:163) 166/1
Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets (with 12 balls remaining)
New
SL
Full commentary
end of over 1813 runs
SL: 166/1CRR: 9.22
Kusal Perera55 (36b 7x4)
Kusal Mendis68 (50b 5x4 3x6)
Alzarri Joseph 3-0-38-0
Romario Shepherd 3-0-24-0
10:35pm Asalanka collects the winner's trophy and then hops over to his teammates. They pose with the trophy and they are all smiles. And that also brings us to the end of our coverage for this T20I series. Lots of cricket lined up in the next few hours, across different countries and you can stay updated with all of it at ESPNcricinfo. Until next time, this is goodbye from Thilak and me. Take care, everyone!
Pathum Nissanka, Player of the Series: I had a plan going in and we planned to take on the spinners. (On the secret to juggling between three formats) Keeping a clear head.
Kusal Mendis, Player of the Match: I am really happy. Pathum played really well in the first six overs and after six overs, I played my game. Little bit turn and it was a little bit slow. Me and Pathum played our normal game in the first six overs. West Indies only had three spinners. After the spinners, playing the fast bowlers can be a little easier (on this pitch).
Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: Secret was the top order batters batted really well and they gave their best shot (in this game). We played good cricket (even against India) and we just needed a bit of momentum and we did that in the second game. (On if he was concerned losing the toss) Not that much but when they scored more than 160, I was a bit (concerned). But I knew if our top order batted well, we could do well. (On attacking the powerplay) That's the plan from both the openers (laughs). I am really happy and good to win the series and I want to thank every fan of Sri Lanka, staying with us and supporting us.
Rovman Powell, West Indies captain: (On the score) We had enough runs. If at the start of the game, if you said we would get 160 on a turning wicket, we would have taken it. But credit to Sri Lanka. (What they could have done better) Control of the powerplay, had we controlled it better as a bowling group, we would have made a game of it. Giving away 60-70 in the powerplay, it is always tough to come back (from it). Sri Lankan spinners completely out-bowled our spinners, and we knew it would be a showdown of the spinners, about who bowled better and who batted better (against him). Lot of positives when you come to Sri Lanka and push them. My guys gave good efforts, our fast bowlers gave good efforts on these tracks. As a batting group, our guys showed we can play against spin. Want to say thanks to the people of Sri Lanka. They have been very nice to us as a touring time.
10:12pm A superlative run-chase, just when it felt that the West Indies had enough on the board. Nissanka set the tone early and once he departed, it was over to the Kusals. Kusal Mendis top-scored with an unbeaten 68, with Kusal Perera also finishing unbeaten on 55. They smashed the ball to all parts, ran their ones and twos rapidly and put the visitors under immense pressure, which ultimately meant that the West Indies' wheels came off.
An indifferent bowling display. There was enough on offer but the visiting bowlers were either too short or too full. The spinners, meanwhile, were often too quick and could not extract whatever assistance the pitch was providing. They had the runs on the board but on this occasion, they did not have the consistency or the tactical nous to get the job done.
17.6
4
Alzarri Joseph to Perera, FOUR runs
17.5
1
Alzarri Joseph to Kusal Mendis, 1 run
low full toss just outside off. Kusal knocks it down to long on and ambles across to the other end. Scores level!
17.4
•
Alzarri Joseph to Kusal Mendis, no run
peach! Back of a length in the channel just outside off. Nips away a smidgen and whistles past the outside edge of Kusal's bat
17.4
1w
Alzarri Joseph to Kusal Mendis, 1 wide
sprayed down leg. Kusal swings and misses, and the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide
Just three needed now. Can SL finish it off in this over?
17.3
1
Alzarri Joseph to Perera, 1 run
low full toss on middle and off. KJP works it towards deep mid wicket
17.2
4
Alzarri Joseph to Perera, FOUR runs
four more! Fifty for KJP, and he embraces his partner with a beaming smile on his face! Goes for the leg-stump yorker but drifts onto the pads. KJP uses the pace and tickles it away fine. Soaks in the applause from his teammates, and from the thousands in the stands. This has been a top-class knock!
17.1
2
Alzarri Joseph to Perera, 2 runs
low full toss outside off. KJP has a swing at it and tugs it towards deep mid wicket. Scurries back for the second and inches closer to his half-century
10 off 18. Alzarri to bowl
end of over 1713 runs
SL: 153/1CRR: 9.00 • RRR: 3.33 • Need 10 runs from 18b
Kusal Perera44 (32b 5x4)
Kusal Mendis67 (48b 5x4 3x6)
Romario Shepherd 3-0-24-0
Gudakesh Motie 4-0-31-1
16.6
1
Shepherd to Perera, 1 run
off-pace and into the track outside off. KJP stands tall and swats it back past the non-striker, who had to take evasive action
16.5
4
Shepherd to Perera, FOUR runs
nifty footwork does not help Powell and the West Indies! Full toss outside off. KJP fetches it and muscles it between long on and deep mid wicket. Powell, running to his left from long on, makes contact with the ball with the outside of his right boot but the ball rolls into the fence ultimately!
A bit of a delay and some confusion around how many runs SL ran. Looks like it is three, so KJP is on strike
16.4
3
Shepherd to Kusal Mendis, 3 runs
has that hit the fence? Looks like Rutherford has saved the boundary but he has injured himself! Seems like another off-pace ball, on a shortish length outside off. Kusal sits deep in his crease and crashes it through point. Rutherford, running around from deep cover point, puts in the dive and gets his fingers stuck into the turf. Saves runs for his team but at some cost. That was also bowled from well behind the stumps
David: "@Shashwat Is this a minefield or an average T20 pitch because the scorecard suggests me it's a average pitch. I am only following through cricinfo so have no idea about the pitch" -- There is turn on offer but WI have just not bowled the right lines or lengths in this innings. Plus, SL's batting has been extraordinary. But certainly not a mine-field
Looks like Kusal Perera might have done himself some mischief here, and the physio is out to check on him
16.3
•
Shepherd to Kusal Mendis, no run
slower ball on a length just outside off. Kusal walks across his stumps, aiming to scoop it. Scrapes the back of the bat and rolls towards the keeper. KJP hared down for some reason and was sent back
16.2
4
Shepherd to Kusal Mendis, FOUR runs
waits for it, and splits the gap with surgical precision! The Kusal Mendis show continues, and the fans are having a ball in Dambulla! Slow, short and wide. Mendis plays it right under his eyes and knifes it between backward point and short third!
16.1
1
Shepherd to Perera, 1 run
loopy low full toss wide outside off. KJP reaches out for it and drills it towards sweeper cover
Madushka tells me this game feels very similar to the first T20I (roles reversed, of course). SL, though, would want to not take it until the last over
end of over 166 runs
SL: 140/1CRR: 8.75 • RRR: 5.75 • Need 23 runs from 24b
Kusal Mendis60 (45b 4x4 3x6)
Kusal Perera38 (29b 4x4)
Gudakesh Motie 4-0-31-1
Shamar Joseph 2-0-26-0
15.6
2
Motie to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs
on a short of a length again, outside off. Kusal goes back and slaps it down the ground, picking up another brace to long off's left
15.5
•
Motie to Kusal Mendis, no run
back of a length wide outside off. Kusal goes back and dabs it towards short third
Three dots after a first-ball boundary
All smiles between Kusal Mendis and the physio, and he uses that time to gulp a sip of water too
15.4
•
Motie to Kusal Mendis, no run
on a fullish length on off. Kusal looks for the sweep but ends up chunking it off the inside edge into his pads. Seems as if the ball eventually deflected onto his helmet. Not a massive blow, but the mandatory concussion test will have to take place
15.3
•
Motie to Kusal Mendis, no run
shortish outside off. Kusal hops back and pulls it towards mid wicket
15.2
•
Motie to Kusal Mendis, no run
shorter and wider outside off. Spins away too, taking it outside of Kusal's arc. He prods it towards extra cover
15.1
4
Motie to Kusal Mendis, FOUR runs
sumptuous, sumptuous stroke! Floated up full on middle and off. Kusal dances down the track, opens up the off side and creams it over extra cover. A bit of Mahela Jayawardene in that stroke!
Motie to bowl his last. Possibly WI's last throw of the dice?
Under run-a-ball for the last five overs, and usually, the team chasing should win it from here. But some crazy things have happened in T20Is in Sri Lanka lately....
end of over 1512 runs
SL: 134/1CRR: 8.93 • RRR: 5.80 • Need 29 runs from 30b
Kusal Perera38 (29b 4x4)
Kusal Mendis54 (39b 3x4 3x6)
Shamar Joseph 2-0-26-0
Roston Chase 4-0-24-0
14.6
2
Shamar Joseph to Perera, 2 runs
dug into the track outside off. KJP nudges it to the edge of the ring in the mid wicket region and has the energy to hurtle back. Kusal Mendis did well too
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Win Probability
SL 100%
WISL100%50%100%
Over 18 • SL 166/1
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