Oshane Thomas pushed the hosts on the backfoot by doing the early damage in the powerplay overs. (Source: Twitter/windiescricket)
Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st T20I Highlights: After losing in the 50-over format, West Indies kicked-off the T20I series with an impressive 25-run win at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing a stiff target of 197 runs, Oshane Thomas pushed the hosts on the backfoot by doing the early damage in the powerplay overs. He also went on to complete a five-wicket haul in the three overs he bowled in the contest.
Sri Lanka, after being pushed on the backfoot, went on to produce a great fightback, leaving the contest wide open in the middle overs. Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga were the architect behind this fightback as the pair added 87 runs for the sixth wicket.
Earlier in the day, opener Lendl Simmons’ unbeaten knock of 67 off 51 balls helped the hosts post 196 on the board.
Highlights
It's all over at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium as West Indies kick-off the two-match T20I series with an impressive 25-run win. Sheldon Cottrell cleans up Malinga as the hosts are bundled up on 171.
Kieron Pollard completes a stunning catch at long-on to send Isuru Udana packing on three. Windies are just one wicket away from winning the contest. SL: 168/9
Rovman Powell gets his second wicket of the match as Thisara Perera departs after adding 11 in 7 balls. There was nothing that he could have done apart from going for the big hits. SL: 168/8 (18 overs)
West Indies finally break the 87-run stand between Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Perera as the former is trapped LBW on 44 off 34 balls. Unfortunate for Hasaranga as he fails to direct a juicy full-toss by Rovman Powell towards the onside and ends up throwing his wicket. SL: 146/6 (16 overs)
Kusal Perera hammers Dwayne Bravo for a six in the final ball of the 15th over as 15 runs come off it. The equation has suddenly turned more in favour of the hosts. SL: 141/5 | need 56 to win in 30 balls
The partnership between Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga has started to haunt the visitors. Both the batsmen are playing, exceptionally well and have added 70 in 48 balls. Sri Lanka now need 71 runs in the final six overs.
Fifty for the left-hander but his job is not done yet!
Kusal Perera is looking solid in the middle. The opener along with Wanindu Hasaranga are trying to knit a crucial partnership for the hosts as they go on to add 39 in 24 balls. SL: 95/5 (10 overs) | 102 runs in 60 balls
Oshane Thomas strikes in the final delivery of the sixth over as Dasun Shanaka departs after scoring 2 from 8 balls. The ball was pitched on the leg stump and the batsman moved across the crease, trying to flick it towards the fine-leg area. However, he fails to make any contact as the ball knocks the stump. The only good thing for Sri Lanka has been their run rate. Despite losing five wickets, Sri Lanka add 56 after the powerplay overs. Opener Kusal Perera will be the key man for the hosts as he is playing on 28 from 12 balls.
Oshane Thomas picks his fourth wicket of the night. This time instead of going for the short ball, Thomas pitches it up and takes the pace off the ball. Angelo Mathews tries to go big but fails to middle the ball and it some work for Andre Russell, but he completes a terrific diving catch. SL: 41/4 (4 overs)
Despite missing out on a hattrick, Oshane Thomas picks three wickets in the same over. He is making great use of his pace and short delivery. Kusal Mendis is the second Lankan batsman to depart on 0. SL: 17/3 (2 overs)
Oshane Thomas inflicts the first blow as Avishka Fernando is caught behind on 7 from 5 balls. A short delivery, with a bit of pace and Fernando, tries to hook it away. However, the ball takes a thick edge and Pooran manages to get hold of the ball in the second attempt. More trouble looms for the hosts as Thomas strikes in consecutive deliveries. A wide delivery this time and Shehan Jayasuriya tries to whack it on the offside. His shot travels straight to Sheldon Cottrell at third man. SL: 16/2 (1.4 overs)
The opening pair of Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando walk out in the middle to start the Lankan chase. Sheldon Cottrell leads the Windies attack.
1wd,6,wkt,1,2,2b,1 | Isuru Udana concedes 14 in the final over and picks up the wicket of Kieron Pollard as West Indies post a stiff 196/4 on the board. The hosts need 197 to win.
The pair of Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons add quick 36 in 21 balls as West Indies edge past the 180-run mark with one over still to go. Can the visitors go past 200?
Kieron Pollard comes in at the crease after Andre Russell's carnage-filled cameo. This is still a good score from the visitors. They would look to get past the 200-run mark from here. Now, the set batsman Lendl Simmons will look to attack as Pollard sets up for a cameo. WI - 150/3 after 16 overs
Lasith Malinga hits the bullseye with perfection. How many times he has done it for Sri Lanka. Andre Russell could do nothing to tackle that one. Russell has to go back to the dugout after scoring a 14-ball 35. What an innings from him! Moreover, what a delivery from Malinga. WI - 145/3 after 15.2 overs
This is the hitting of the highest order. Andre Russell is just smoking the ball all-around the park. No matter where the fielders are, Russell is just making them a mute spectator. Redonkulous hitting from the Big Man. Another big over as Russell hits two sixes and one four from it. Wanindu Hasaranga has been hit out of the attack. WI - 144/2 after 15 overs
The Andre Russell we all know is back. Promoted up the order, Russell targets Sandakan and ruins his bowling figures in his last over. Two sixes and one four, brute force from DreRus! 19 runs from the Chinaman's over. WI - 126/2 after 14 overs
Nicholas Pooran throws his wicket away trying to hit Wanindu Hasaranga for a big shot. An excellent catch from Avishka Fernando in the deep. Pooran departs for 14, Andre Russell is the next man in. Just two runs and a wicket from Hasaranga's over. WI - 107/2 after 13 overs
Sri Lanka continue to falter in the middle. Loose deliveries, sloppy fielding headline their effort in the match so far. Lendl Simmons and Nicholas Pooran are constantly looking for boundaries. Lakshan Sandakan is the only bowler who has made an impact so far. It is hard to understand by Wanidu Hasaranga has not been introduced into the attack till now. WI - 105/1 after 12 overs
Eighth T20I fifty for Lendl Simmons. The Windies opener continues to take on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He is surely in the reckoning ahead of the T20 World Cup as Evin Lewis' injury paved the way for his return. He reaches the milestone from 31 deliveries. WI - 90/1 after 10 overs
Finally, some relief for the hosts as Lakshan Sandakan gets the wicket of Brandon King. Sandakan tossed it up but away from King's body as he went for a big hit. An easy catch for Wanidu Hasaranga in the outfield. King departs for 33. WI - 74/1 after 8.2 overs
Spin from one end. Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan into the attack. Sloppy fielding is costing Sri Lankan team as it is releasing the pressure put by few bowlers. Thisara Perera comes back into the attack as well. Brandon King finds another boundary. Meanwhile, Simmons has moved into 40s, heading towards his eighth T20I fifty. WI - 74/0 after 8 overs
Kieron Pollard becomes the first cricketer to play 500 T20s (international and franchise cricket included).
Lendl Simmons is toying with deliveries bowled by Isuru Udana. First ball, pitched up and Simmons hit it over long on for a huge six. Second ball, Simons slices it away over the backward point fielder for a boundary. Third one, a slower ball, a leading edge but lands safe. Fourth ball, Udana asks for it with a non-threatening short ball. Simmons hits it for a maximum. Next ball, Simmons uses the pace of the ball and a deft touch past the backward point fielder for a boundary. Udana bowls another slower delivery and Simmons fails to get bat on that. 20 runs from the over. WI - 58/0 after 6 overs
Lasith Malinga introduces himself back in the attack but fails to get the breakthrough. This is a good start for West Indies as they have not lost a wicket in the first overs. Also, sloppy fielding from the Sri Lankans as Windies openers steal singles inside the 30-yard circle. WI - 38/0 after 5 overs
Lasith Malinga doesn't want the batsmen to settle but it seems like his bowlers are finding it hard to find the right line and length in the first over itself. Two boundaries from Lendl Simmons' bat on the first two balls of the over. Good comeback from Udana as Simmons manages to score just one single on the remaining deliveries. WI - 30/0 after 4 overs
A change in the attack after bowling just one over with the new ball. Lasith Malinga replaces himself with Angelo Mathews as he intends to use his quota of overs in the backend of the innings or maybe chip in with a solitary over in the middle overs. Two boundaries from Mathews over. Brandon King gets lucky as a leading-edge off his bat goes over the backward point fielder and runs towards the boundary. WI - 21/0 after 3 overs
Thisara Perera returns to the T20I squad and bowls a good over despite the last-ball six. Perera bowls five consecutive dot deliveries to Brandon King. The Windies opener takes the aerial route on the last delivery and releases the pressure with a maximum over long off. WI - 12/0 after 2 overs
Lasith Malinga opens the bowling for Sri Lanka and darts in an array of yorkers. Malinga missed his line on the fourth delivery and Brandon King flicked it towards deep square leg for a boundary. Quick running between the wickets between King and Lendl Simmons in the first over. Malinga has a good record here. He took the double hat-trick against New Zealand last year at this venue. WI - 6/0 after 1 over
Lasith Malinga: We wanted to bowl first. I hope we can bring the energy from the ODIs into the T20 format. Today is a new match so I'll try to do my best for the Sri Lankan team.
Kieron Pollard: We are gonna bat first. We have a fair idea of how it's going to play. We have few T20 specialist in our side, hopefully they come in and make a difference. We have left out Williams, Shai Hope misses out. It's a matter of trying to do what I can do. More importantly looking forward to perform for the team.
SL XI: Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera(w), Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga(c), Lakshan Sandakan
WI XI: Lendl Simmons, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell
Kieron Pollard wins toss, elects to bat first. Good toss to win for the Caribbean side as they would like to put a big total on the board.
Hello and welcome to Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st T20I live blog. The weather forecast looks clear. The team winning the toss may look to bat first and post a big total on the board.