WI beat SL in 3rd T20I, seal series 2-1
What's the story
West Indies pulled off a stunning five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I of their series at Sabina Park, Kingston. The hosts chased down a target of 170 with just two balls to spare, thanks to Jason Holder's explosive cameo of 21 runs off just five balls and Sherfane Rutherford's steady 54*. Earlier in the game, Shamar Joseph took a five-wicket haul for the hosts. With this, the hosts won the series 2-1. Here are the key stats.
SL innings
Joseph's early strikes derail Sri Lanka's momentum
Sri Lanka, batting first for the third time in this series, started strongly with Kamil Mishara (26) and Pathum Nissanka (28). They raced to 48/1 in the fifth over but lost steam toward the end of the Powerplay. Joseph struck twice in his first over as the Lankans lost regular wickets thereafter. With their innings in danger of fizzling out, Dunith Wellalage (43) gave it some much-needed impetus. Kamindu Mendis (20) and Wanindu Hasaranga (21*) also added some handy runs as SL finished at 169/10.
Match details
A steady start for West Indies
The West Indies innings got off to a rocky start with Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Wellalage dismissing captain Shai Hope for a duck on just the third ball. However, Brandon King (16 off 20) and Shimron Hetmyer (32 off 19) steadied the ship with a second-wicket partnership of 51 runs. The middle overs nearly derailed the chase with Hetmyer falling to Hasaranga and King dismissed by the same bowler.
Game shift
The turning point of the match
Ackeem Auguste was bowled by Maheesh Theekshana, leaving West Indies at a precarious 53/4 in just nine balls. Rovman Powell (33 off 27) then took on the rebuilding job with Rutherford, adding 81 runs for the fifth wicket in 52 balls. The latter was then joined by Holder as the duo's fiery 36-run stand powered the hosts over the line in the final over.
Final push
Holder's blitzkrieg seals the deal for WI
Rutherford remained unbeaten on 54. His half-century came at a crucial stage of the chase, keeping the required rate from spiraling out of control. The match-defining cameo came in the final two overs when Holder smashed three sixes off his five balls, remaining unbeaten on an astonishing 21 with a strike rate of 420.
Bowling performance
Hasaranga was the pick of SL bowlers
Despite the loss, Hasaranga was the most economical bowler of the match with figures of 4-0-17-2 at an economy rate of just 4.20. Maheesh Theekshana also bowled well with figures of 4-1-26-1 at an economy rate of 6.50, while Wellalage took one wicket for 23 runs in his three overs. However, it was Sri Lanka's death bowling where they lost the match as Chameera (4-0-64-1) and Eshan Malinga (4-0-30-0) failed to contain West Indies's lower-order hitting.
Information
A fine 43 from Wellalage
Batting at seven, Wellalage was the only Sri Lankan to score over 30 in the game. His 43 off 28 balls was laced with six fours and a maximum. This was his career-best T20I score, which took him to 137 runs at an average of 19.57. The youngster also owns 20 wickets in the format (ER: 7.56).
Joseph
Joseph scripts records with his maiden T20I fifer
Joseph's 5/33 across four overs made him the ninth WI bowler to claim a T20I five-wicket haul, as per ESPNcricinfo. Oshane Thomas is the only other Caribbean bowler to accomplish this feat against the Lankans. Joseph, who claimed three wickets each in the first two T20Is of this series, has raced to 37 T20I wickets across 25 matches at an economy of 9.16. The pacer's spell also powered him past 50 wickets in overall T20 cricket. He has now raced to 51 scalps across 41 matches.
Shanaka
Shanaka joins these names
The game saw former SL skipper Dasun Shanaka score 16 off 13 balls with the help of a four and a six. Though the knock was brief, it powered him past 2,000 T20I runs. Shanaka has raced to 2,008 runs at an average of 20.91, as his strike rate is 129.63. He has hit nine fifties. Pathum Nissanka (2,699), Kusal Mendis (2,694), and Kusal Perera (2,335) are the other Sri Lankans in the 2,000-run club.
Rutherford
Sixth T20I fifty for Rutherford
With his 54* in the game, Rutherford has raced to 902 runs from 56 T20I matches at an average of 24.37. This was his sixth half-century and a maiden one against the Lankans. The big-hitting batter now owns 57 sixes. Rutherford now has 102 runs across five outings against SL at 34.
Knocks
Vital 30s from Hetmyer, Powell
Hetmyer and Powell also played vital roles in WI's stunning win. The former smoked three fours and two sixes en route to his 19-ball 32. This took him to 1,678 T20I runs at 24.68. Meanwhile, Powell smashed three sixes and a four for his 27-ball 33. WI's highest run-getter in T20Is, Powell now boasts 2,347 runs at 26.37.
Nissanka
Nissanka goes past 150 T20 sixes
Nissanka made 26 off 17 balls in the game with the help of two fours and as many sixes. The first maximum from Nissanka's blade helped him unlock 150 T20 sixes. According to ESPNcricinfo, Nissanka raced to 151 T20 sixes in his 180th appearance. 78 of his T20 sixes have come in internationals.
Overall numbers
5,000 T20 runs loading for Nissanka
Nissanka's latest efforts have taken him to 4,942 runs in T20 cricket. He averages 29.24 (SR: 133.24). He is SL's highest run-scorer in the T20I format, having scored 2,699 runs at an average of 30.67. The tally includes 19 fifties and a couple of hundreds (SR: 128.58).