17/10Result
3rd T20I (N), West Indies tour of Sri Lanka at Dambulla, Oct 17 2024
Sri Lanka won by 9 wkts (12b rem)
Player of the Match
Kusal Mendis
Kusal MendisSri Lanka
17/10Result
3rd T20I (N), West Indies tour of Sri Lanka at Dambulla, Oct 17 2024
Sri Lanka won by 9 wkts (12b rem)
Player of the Match
Kusal Mendis
Kusal MendisSri Lanka

END OF OVER:
20 | 15 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 162/8 | RR: 8.10

  • Alzarri Joseph2 (1b)
  • Fabian Allen4 (1b)
  • Nuwan Thushara2-0-27-1
  • Matheesha Pathirana2-0-15-1

8:30pm Powell, at the toss, said 145-150 would be par, and the West Indies have got many more. Which could make this an above-par score. It was not always this promising and a string of wickets left them 68-5 after 12 overs. The tide, however, turned with Powell dispatching Kamindu over the fence. He then smashed Asalanka for another six an over later, before Motie pounded Wellalage into submission in his last over. That set the tone for the rest of the innings and the visitors continued with that momentum, eventually ending up with 162.

An inconsistent bowling display by Sri Lanka. They were very good for 12 overs or so, but then started bowling a touch too short. There was a three over spell (between overs 13-15) where they conceded five sixes and that wrestled their advantage away from them. Their decision-making also left a bit to be desired, with Theekshana not bowling out, and Pathirana only bowling two. This seems a tough chase, but if they can get off to a good start, they will feel they can give this a proper rattle. Join us in a bit for the run-chase!

Maheesh Theekshana: I think it is a good score. Compared to the last game, it (the pitch) is better but this is a chaseable score. (On what they wanted to restrict WI to after their start) 120-130, but they got the momentum from Dunith's over and they kept going. Because we had five spinners and two pacers, we have enough options. (On him not bowling out his quota) We went with the good options that the captain thought. It went well but just one or two overs went wrong. That said, we can still chase this.

19.6
2
Thushara to AS Joseph, 2 runs, into the blockhole on leg stump. Alzarri gets his feet out of the way and flicks it out towards deep mid wicket. Allen calls for two and Alzarri makes it back too!

Alzarri out to face the last ball

19.5
W
Thushara to Shepherd, OUT, timmmberrrr! Slower ball again and this time, Thushara gets the length right. Just full enough to entice the slog but also short enough to not be in the slot. Shepherd swings and misses, and the ball crashes into middle stump. Bulls-eye from Thushara, but Shepherd has done his job!

R Shepherd b Thushara 18 (22m 13b 1x4 1x6) SR: 138.46

19.4
2
Thushara to Shepherd, 2 runs, goes high up, but it lands safely! Hard length on middle and off. Gets big on Shepherd and he splices his pull. The ball stays in the air for a fair while but everyone is on the fence and no one can rush in quick enough
19.3
4
Thushara to Shepherd, FOUR, squeezed away and into the fence! What whippage! This was right in the blockhole, tailing into the back boot. Shepherd, though, somehow, got his wrists through it and sent it scorching into the deep square leg fence!
19.3
2w
Thushara to Allen, 2 wides, darted way down leg and Kusal Mendis, this time, does well to lunge to his left and collect it. But he then undoes his good work by needlessly throwing down the stumps, giving away an over-throw in the process
19.2
4
Thushara to Allen, FOUR, and Allen is up and running! Another slower ball but this is too short outside off. Allen sizes it up and belts it between deep mid wicket and deep square leg!

Allen on strike

19.1
1
Thushara to Shepherd, 1 run, off-pace on a length on off. Shepherd clears his front leg and heaves it towards deep mid wicket

Thushara to bowl the last

END OF OVER:
19 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 147/7 | RR: 7.73

  • Romario Shepherd11 (9b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana2-0-15-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-24-2
18.6
W
Pathirana to Powell, OUT, picked up, and taken eventually by Rajapaksa at deep mid wicket! And that brings the Dambulla crowd to life! Full again, slanting into the pads. Earlier in the over, that might have fetched Powell a boundary but with the sweeper on the fence, he perishes. The bat also turned upon impact and it was almost a leading edge. Rajapaksa did indulge in a little juggling act, but got the job done, most importantly!

R Powell c Rajapaksa b Pathirana 37 (42m 27b 1x4 3x6) SR: 137.03

18.5
0
Pathirana to Powell, no run, zipped in full on middle and off. Powell sits deep in his crease and swings at it, possibly looking over long on. Chunks it off the inside edge and the ball smashes into his back pad
18.5
5w
Pathirana to Powell, 5 wides, oh dear - bonus runs for the West Indies! Sprayed down leg. Powell tries to help it fine but does not get bat on it. Kusal Mendis cannot get across to it either and that hits the fence!
18.4
0
Pathirana to Powell, no run, slower yorker outside off. Right under the bat and Powell can only clink it back to the bowler

Sweeper cover comes in. Mid wicket goes back

18.3
6
Pathirana to Powell, SIX, that has gone a mile up, and that clears the fence! Slower ball on a length outside off. Powell may not have picked the variation but he was always going to have an almighty pop at that length. Gets under it and in the end, gets enough to clear the deep mid wicket boundary!
18.2
1lb
Pathirana to Shepherd, 1 leg bye, angled in full on the pads. Shepherd is again late on the stroke and the ball rolls off the pads towards fine leg
18.1
0
Pathirana to Shepherd, no run, oh, how has that missed?! Speared in full just outside off. Shepherd winds up for the huge slog but is awfully late on the stroke. Lucky his off stump is not pegged back

Pathirana to bowl the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | WI: 135/6 | RR: 7.50

  • Rovman Powell31 (23b)
  • Romario Shepherd11 (7b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-24-2
  • Matheesha Pathirana1-0-4-0
17.6
2
Hasaranga to Powell, 2 runs, short outside off. Powell uses the depth of the crease and heaves it towards deep mid wicket. Ends the over with a brace
17.5
1
Hasaranga to Shepherd, 1 run, back of a length on leg stump. Shepherd goes back and tucks it away towards deep square leg
17.4
2
Hasaranga to Shepherd, 2 runs, leg-spinner floated up full and wide outside off. Shepherd slices it over extra cover and Theekshana does enough on the fence to keep it to two
17.3
6
Hasaranga to Shepherd, SIX, a strapping Shepherd blow! Length on middle and leg, and Shepherd makes merry. Gets his front foot out of the way, swings through the line and launches it over long on!
17.2
0
Hasaranga to Shepherd, no run, angled in full on leg stump. Shepherd clears his front leg and swings for the hills. Misses his slog-sweep and the ball pings him on the back leg
17.1
1
Hasaranga to Powell, 1 run, shortish on middle and leg. Powell hops back and pulls it on the bounce to long on. Powell was reluctant to take the single but Shepherd was intent on getting on strike

The cap comes out again for Powell, which indicates this will be another over of spin. Hasaranga and Theekshana have one an over left, and looks like it will be Hasaranga to bowl the 18th

END OF OVER:
17 | 5 Runs | WI: 123/6 | RR: 7.23

  • Rovman Powell28 (21b)
  • Romario Shepherd2 (3b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana1-0-4-0
  • Wanindu Hasaranga3-0-12-2
16.6
1
Pathirana to Powell, 1 run, full toss on middle and leg. Powell pushes it to long on and is happy to take the single and retain strike
16.5
0
Pathirana to Powell, no run, searing yorker, honing into the boot. Powell is all at sea and cannot swish it away. Rolls off the back leg towards the keeper
16.4
1lb
Pathirana to Shepherd, 1 leg bye, zipped into the blockhole on the pads. Shepherd cannot get his bat down in time and the ball deflects away off his boot for a leg bye

Qaaid: "Don't think SL have managed their bowlers too well. 5 overs left, Pathirana hasn't bowled yet, while Theekshana and Hasaranga have 3 overs left between them. I think they bowled one over too many between Asalanka and Kamindu. " -- Probably, but both of them just went for a six apiece in those extra overs. It was Wellalage's last over that truly turned the momentum West Indies' way