West Indies held their nerve in a dramatic series decider to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the third T20I at Sabina Park, Kingston, sealing the three-match series 2-1 after a tense finish that slipped away from the visitors in the closing overs.
Sri Lanka, sent in to bat after West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl, were bowled out for 169 in their 20 overs. It was a total that looked competitive for long periods, especially after Sri Lanka’s bowlers reduced West Indies to 53/4 in the chase, but Sherfane Rutherford and Jason Holder turned the match around with a powerful late surge.
The defeat will hurt Sri Lanka because they had opportunities to win the match and the series. Their bowlers started brilliantly, their spinners controlled the middle overs, and West Indies were under serious pressure at the halfway stage of the chase. But in T20 cricket, one loose phase can undo everything, and Sri Lanka paid heavily for losing control at the death.
Sri Lanka’s innings began with promise despite the early loss of captain Kusal Mendis for 5. Pathum Nissanka struck 26 from 17 balls, while Kamil Mishara continued his good form with 28 from 23 deliveries. At 51/1 in the powerplay, Sri Lanka looked well placed to build towards a stronger total.
However, Shamar Joseph changed the direction of the innings with a decisive spell. He removed Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake and later returned at the death to rip through the Sri Lankan lower order. His pace and accuracy stopped Sri Lanka from finishing with the kind of total they looked capable of reaching.
Sri Lanka slipped from 51/1 to 88/5, losing momentum just when they needed a strong middle phase. Kamindu Mendis made 20 from 15 balls, while Dasun Shanaka contributed 16, but neither batter was able to convert his start into the kind of innings Sri Lanka needed.
Dunith Wellalage then gave Sri Lanka hope with a fine counterattacking knock. Batting in the lower order, he made 43 from 28 balls, striking six fours and one six. His innings gave Sri Lanka late energy and helped push the total to 169, which at the interval looked defendable.
Wanindu Hasaranga also played a useful hand with 21 from 13 balls, but Sri Lanka’s last-over collapse proved costly. Joseph finished with 5/33, completing a superb five-wicket haul and making sure the visitors did not get beyond 170.
West Indies’ chase began in disastrous fashion. Shai Hope was bowled by Wellalage for a duck in the opening over, while Brandon King fell to Hasaranga for 16. When Ackeem Auguste and Shimron Hetmyer followed, West Indies were suddenly 53/4 in 8.2 overs, and Sri Lanka appeared to be in control.
Hetmyer had briefly threatened with a sharp 32 off 19 balls, but Hasaranga’s removal of him was a major moment. At that stage, Sri Lanka’s spinners had tightened the game and forced West Indies into a difficult position.
But Rutherford refused to panic. The left-hander absorbed pressure, picked his scoring options carefully and gradually brought West Indies back into the match. His unbeaten 54 from 40 balls became the anchor of the chase, especially after Rovman Powell added 33 from 27 balls in an important partnership.
Sri Lanka still had the match within reach when Powell fell at 134/5, leaving West Indies needing 36 from the final three overs. But the game turned sharply when Holder arrived at the crease and launched a brutal late attack.
Holder smashed 21 not out from just five balls, including three sixes, punishing missed yorkers and full deliveries in the penultimate over. His cameo changed the entire mood of the match and left Sri Lanka with too little to defend in the final over.
Rutherford completed his half-century and guided West Indies home with two balls to spare, sealing a memorable win for the hosts and a painful defeat for Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga was excellent with the ball, taking 2/17 from four overs, while Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana also bowled economically. But Chameera’s expensive final spell hurt the visitors badly, as West Indies found the late boundaries that decided the match.
The result gives West Indies the T20I series 2-1 after Sri Lanka had fought back strongly in the second match. For Sri Lanka, this was a missed chance to claim another series in the Caribbean after their ODI success, but their inability to close out the final overs proved decisive.
Shamar Joseph was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 5/33, a spell that kept Sri Lanka below par and set up West Indies’ series-clinching victory.
Chief Scores
Sri Lanka 169 all out in 20 overs
Dunith Wellalage 43, Kamil Mishara 28, Pathum Nissanka 26
Shamar Joseph 5/33, Akeal Hosein 1/31, Roston Chase 1/32
West Indies 170/5 in 19.4 overs
Sherfane Rutherford 54 not out, Rovman Powell 33, Shimron Hetmyer 32, Jason Holder 21 not out
Wanindu Hasaranga 2/17, Dunith Wellalage 1/23, Maheesh Theekshana 1/26
