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A comprehensive performance with the bat (21 not out) and ball (1/13) from Fabian Allen powered West Indies (WI) to their first T20 International series win at home in almost three years after defeating Sri Lanka by three wickets at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Sunday.
The maroon had a nervy ending to the series although the visitors were restricted to 131 for four wickets. In reply, late batting theatrics from Allen and a brazen stance from Jason Holder (14 not out) saw the hosts reach a victorious 134 for seven with just one over to spare.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka’s opening batsmen Dhanushka Gunathilleke (nine) and Pathum Nissanka (five) started slowly against opening bowler Fabian Allen.
In the second over, Guyanese spinner Kevin Sinclair was pulled over short midwicket by Gunathilaka for four. Sinclair had a chance to get his man, the very next ball, but a wayward throw from the bowler prevented a potential run out.
Allen took sweet revenge in the first ball of his second over as he had ‘Guna’ caught and bowled. He made way for Dinesh Chandimal. Sinclair returned with the ball and was soon rewarded as Niroshan Dickwella (four) sent a top-edge into the hands of Bajan Jason Holder (15/2).
Holder was introduced to the attack and sent Nissanka packing in the final ball of his first over, caught by Sinclair, who took a tumble. New batsman Angelo Mathews got off to a good start by cutting through backward point for four.
With just 11 runs coming off the following two overs, pacer Obed McCoy struck in the ninth as Mathews (11 runs) was caught behind by Nicholas Pooran.
At 54/3 after ten overs, Chandimal settled and smacked McCoy through fine leg for a welcomed boundary. Against Holder, Chandimal hit over the top for another four and then slapped Dwayne Bravo for the same amount behind point.
Ashen Bandara then launched McCoy for a maximum behind square and a four over short third man the very next ball. With three overs to go at 105/4, the pair continuously rotated the strike and piled on runs.
In the final over, against Bravo, Bandara blasted over his head for six and then struck a boundary off the following ball. With two runs coming off the final two balls, Sri Lanka closed on a gettable 131/4.
Allen topped the bowling with his one wicket for 13 runs while Sinclair (1/19), Holder (1/27) and McCoy (1/29) also contributed nicely.
In their turn at the crease, opening batsmen Lendl Simmons (26) and Evin Lewis (21) had a strong start. The latter showed early intent by cutting Akila Dananjaya between cover and point for four in only the second ball of the first over. Three balls later, Lewis lay back and pulled the spinner for a huge six.
Four leg-byes and four runs off Dushmantha Chameera in the second over easily aided the chase. Lewis took a liking to Dananjaya once more as he pulled and beat short fine leg for a boundary.
Chameera, however, would not go unpunished as Lewis and Simmons hit him for two fours in the same over, one over mid-off and the other clearing mid-on respectively.
Wanindu Hasaranga then entered the Sri Lankan bowling attack and almost had Simmons out on his first delivery but he was dropped by Dhanushka Gunathilleke. Three balls later, Lewis was trapped leg before and made way for big-hitter Chris Gayle (38/1).
Simmons continued to distress Dananjaya as he hit a four, a six and another four consecutively to end the fifth over. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella returned Simmons to the stands in the next over, stumped off PWH de Silva (54/2).
WI skipper Kieron Pollard entered but surprisingly lasted only three balls as he was caught behind by Dickwella courtesy Chameera’s spell (61/3). The captain’s dismissal brought Pooran to the forefront but slowed the chase.
With just 13 runs coming from the following three overs, WI were pushed further back with Gayle’s (13) dismissal by Lakshan Sandakan. He was bowled.
Pooran brought life to the topsy-turvy innings by hitting Sandakan over long-on for six and then another over long-off. With 38 runs to go off the final six overs, Pooran was bowled by Chameera on 23; WI now uncertain at 95/5.
Rovman Powell came to the middle and hit Sandakan for six over long-on before he had his off stump shaken by Sandakan’s witty spin. Bravo lasted one ball, caught by Dananjaya without scoring (105/7).
With Holder and Allen at the crease, the former swung his bat in the 17th over to smash a maximum and send WI needing 27 runs from the final 18 balls. Holder hit another off a free hit in the 18th over and set up Allen to chase the remaining runs.
Against Dananjaya, Allen struck a six off the first ball, two runs off the second and another maximum. He struck a single to bring Holder on strike, who returned the favour with two balls to go.
Allen, however, made no mistake and launched Dananjaya high into the night, for six, to lead a remarkable fight back for the men in maroon.
This was the WI’s second consecutive T20 series win against Sri Lanka in the past two years.
Scores:
SRI LANKA 131 for four off 20 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 54 not out, Ashen Bandara 44 not out)
WEST INDIES 134 for seven off 19 overs (Lendl Simmons 26, Nicholas Pooran 23, Evin Lewis 21; Lakshan Sandakan 3-29, Hasaranga de Silva 2-13, Dushmantha Chameera 2-23)
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