Sri Lanka Cricket. (Source – Getty Images)
Rovman Powell asserted that the surface used for the second T20I between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium wasn’t ideal for the shortest format of the game. However, he credited the hosts for using the conditions to their advantage after the West Indies crashed to a 73-run defeat on Tuesday, October 15, as Sri Lanka restored parity in the three-match series.
Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat first as he mentioned the dryness of the pitch. Sri Lanka handed a T20I debut to all-rounder Dunith Wellalage in place of in-form pacer Asitha Fernando to beef up the spin-bowling resources. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave Sri Lanka a solid start at the top of the order as they added 77 runs in 10 overs.
After Mendis departed for a 25-ball 26, Kusal Perera joined Nissanka in the middle and played a handy cameo. Perera’s 24-run knock came off just 16 balls. Nissanka, meanwhile, reached his half-century before perishing for a 49-ball 54. Kamindu Mendis also played a decent hand to take the hosts to 162/5, which looked like a very good score on a sluggish surface. Powell, however, said that his players were confident of chasing the target down.
“At the halfway stage we believed we could get 160. But it was not a T20 wicket and they (SL) used the conditions nicely tonight. It was just the case of us not reaching for the ball like we did. We have 24 hours to look at what we can do better,” Powell said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
It was a good toss to win: Charith Asalanka
Sri Lanka gave only one over to Nuwan Thushara with the new ball before using spinners on both ends. Maheesh Theekshana and Wellalage spun a web around the Windies batters and the visitors only managed 21 runs inside the powerplay for the loss of three wickets. No West Indies batter looked comfortable against the five spin-bowling options used by Asalanka and they eventually got bowled out for 89 in the 17th over.
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Asalanka lauded the opening batters for getting Sri Lanka off to a good start. He also praised Wellalage, who finished with excellent figures of 3/9 in his four overs.
“It is an important win for us. It is a journey and hopefully, this win will be a start. It was a good toss to win. We were thinking 160-170 would be a par score and the openers set the platform. He (Wellalage) has experience playing 50-over cricket and didn’t look like a debutant. Hopefully, we win the series,” Asalanka stated.