West Indies Outclass Sri Lanka: King and Lewis Shine in T20 Opener

Abeera Marium Siddiqui
October 14, 2024
3:54 pm
25

West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a thrilling five-wicket win in Dambulla. Brandon King and Evin Lewis put on a dazzling show at the top, making light work of Sri Lanka’s target of 180. Despite Sri Lanka’s middle-order heroics from Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, their efforts ended up as mere footnotes in a match where West Indies dominated with both bat and ball.

Sri Lanka's Early Setbacks

Sri Lanka's innings never really found its footing at the start. Pathum Nissanka tried to give the home side a good start but fell prey to Romario Shepherd’s sharp bowling. He edged behind after a few streaky boundaries. Kusal Perera was next, bowled clean by Shamar Joseph in the following over, leaving Sri Lanka at 27 for 2 and wobbling early.

Kamindu Mendis, known for his ability to switch arms while bowling, came out with a clear mission – stabilize Sri Lanka’s innings. He was quickly joined by Charith Asalanka, and together they began the rescue job. Kamindu, fresh off becoming the fastest batter to 1000 Test runs since 1950, played a composed knock, showing his adaptability in the shorter format. Asalanka, on the other hand, added flair to the innings with his aggressive stroke play, smashing boundaries all around the park.

The pair’s 82-run stand in just 54 balls looked to have put Sri Lanka in a decent position, especially after Kamindu reached his fifty. However, the moment Sri Lanka looked set to build momentum, the West Indies bowlers struck again. Kamindu pulled one straight to the fielder in the deep, and Asalanka followed soon after, skying one to long-on. These dismissals left Sri Lanka at 179 for 7, a total that seemed competitive but not safe against a power-packed West Indies lineup.

King and Lewis: A Powerplay Masterclass

West Indies’ chase began with a bang. Evin Lewis and Brandon King made their intentions clear from the get-go, taking the Sri Lankan bowlers to task. King set the tone, charging down the pitch and smashing Asitha Fernando through the line for boundaries. His aggression was matched by Lewis, who hammered Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and a four in the very first over.

By the time the powerplay ended, West Indies had already piled on 74 runs. King and Lewis were in unstoppable form, with King racing to his half-century in just 25 balls. His ability to time the ball so effortlessly, especially down the ground, left Sri Lanka’s bowlers clueless.

“It’s always important when you come to Sri Lanka to take an early lead,” West Indies captain Rovman Powell said after the game. “We know that Sri Lanka is a team that plays excellent cricket at home. Once you get on top, you try to stay on top as long as possible.”

King and Lewis’ 107-run partnership off just 55 balls was the highest for West Indies against Sri Lanka in T20Is, and it put the West Indies firmly in control of the game. King’s 63 off 33 balls and Lewis’ 50 off 28 made the chase seem almost too easy.

Sri Lanka’s Fightback Falls Short

Despite losing both openers in quick succession – Lewis to a slower ball from Pathirana and King to a clever piece of bowling from Kamindu – the damage had already been done. The platform was set, and West Indies middle order didn’t need to take any major risks.

Roston Chase and Rovman Powell kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and the occasional boundary. Although Sri Lanka tried to claw their way back into the game, it was too little, too late. Powell’s departure in the 17th over, mistiming a six, gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope. However, Sherfane Rutherford ensured there were no further hiccups, finishing the game off with a boundary in the final over.

West Indies Bowling Attack Delivers

West Indies didn’t just shine with the bat – their bowling unit made sure Sri Lanka had to work for every run. Shepherd was particularly impressive, picking up two key wickets and keeping the Sri Lankan batters in check. Shamar Joseph, although only picking up one wicket, was economical, conceding just 27 runs from his four overs.

Gudakesh Motie also contributed with a crucial wicket, cleaning up Kusal Mendis with a beautiful quicker delivery. The West Indies bowlers executed their plans well, using the conditions to their advantage and ensuring Sri Lanka couldn’t get the explosive start they wanted.

What’s Next?

West Indies will head into the next game full of confidence, knowing they’ve already landed the first punch. For Sri Lanka, there’s plenty to work on, especially with their top-order batting. They’ll need to find a way to counter the West Indies pace attack and prevent a repeat of King and Lewis’ fireworks.

“We’ll address a few issues and come back stronger,” said Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka. “The plus point is that we are playing good cricket, but we need to be better.”

With two more games to go, Sri Lanka still has a chance to bounce back, but the pressure will be on. The West Indies, on the other hand, will be looking to wrap up the series in the second match and continue their dominance.

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