Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera’s Fifties Propel Sri Lanka to Series Victory Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera’s Fifties Propel Sri Lanka to Series Victory
Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera’s Fifties Propel Sri Lanka to Series Victory

October 20, 2024

Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera’s Fifties Propel Sri Lanka to Series Victory

The West Indies managed to recover from a rough start to score 162 runs, but it was not enough to secure victory. Pathum Nissanka quickly set the tone for Sri Lanka’s innings, followed by a strong partnership of 106 runs between Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera for the second wicket. This chase was surprisingly smooth for a team that had never beaten the West Indies in a T20I series before. The top three batsmen all played impressive innings, leading Sri Lanka to their target of 163 with 12 balls to spare, much to the delight of a packed crowd celebrating Poya Day in Dambulla.

Earlier, West Indies reached 162, thanks in large part to Gudakesh Motie, who scored 32 runs off just 15 balls in a late surge. Although Dunith Wellalage struggled with his bowling, Sri Lanka’s other spinners effectively limited the West Indies’ scoring. Kusal Mendis emerged as the top scorer of the match, finishing with 68 not out off 50 balls, while Perera contributed 55 runs off 36 balls, and Nissanka played aggressively with 39 runs off 22 balls.

This 2-1 series victory marks a significant improvement for Sri Lanka in T20 cricket, where they have faced challenges over the past two years. This year, they have already won five Test matches and secured a bilateral ODI series victory against India in July. The win also boosts the reputation of their new coach, Sanath Jayasuriya.

Read More: October 18 T20 World Cup: West Indies Face New Zealand in Underdog Showdown

Sri Lanka Launches an Early Attack

The West Indies strengthened their spin attack by including Fabian Allen in the lineup for this match. However, Pathum Nissanka quickly established Sri Lanka’s dominance with a powerful start. He hit three fours in the first over bowled by Allen and followed that up by launching seamer Alzarri Joseph for two sixes and a four in the next over, displaying his ability to score runs all around the ground, particularly favoring the square region on the offside. By the time Nissanka was bowled by a slider from Gudakesh Motie after 5.2 overs, Sri Lanka had already raced to 60 runs.

Kusal Mendis and Perera Steady the Ship Before Accelerating

The early middle overs of the match were quieter compared to the explosive start. However, Kusal Perera soon found his rhythm, particularly targeting boundaries off his legs, which reignited Sri Lanka’s scoring rate before the West Indies could apply any real pressure. Kusal Mendis, who had started to accelerate his scoring towards the end of the powerplay, kept hitting regular boundaries as he moved toward his 15th T20I fifty. Perera also reached his half-century—his 15th—during the final over of the game.

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West Indies Let Opportunities Slip

The West Indies had several opportunities to disrupt Sri Lanka’s chase. In the first over, Rovman Powell misjudged a high ball and failed to catch the dangerous Nissanka, instead deflecting it over the boundary for four runs. Later, Roston Chase dropped a simple return catch from Kusal Mendis when he was on 44, although Sri Lanka was already well on their way to victory at that point. Additionally, in the ninth over, Shai Hope missed a chance to run out Kusal Mendis when he threw at the stumps but failed to hit them while Mendis was on 34.

Motie’s Dominance

The highlight of the West Indies’ innings came in the 15th over, during which they scored 25 runs. At that point, their innings was struggling at 86 for 5 after 14 overs, facing a strong spin attack from Sri Lanka. However, Gudakesh Motie turned things around by targeting left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. His first boundary came off an outside edge, but he quickly followed it up with three impressive sixes—one straight down the ground and two soaring over deep midwicket. Although Motie was dismissed shortly after, his explosive performance revitalized the West Indies’ innings.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.