Sri Lanka’s spinners defeated the West Indies by 43- runs to win the second Twenty20 cricket international at Coolidge cricket ground on Friday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
Defending a moderate total of 160 runs, West Indies was bowled out for 117 in 18.4 overs. Sri Lanka had four spinners in hand for the must-win match at Coolidge and this strategy paid off as West Indies were unable to maintain the scoring momentum and wickets tumbled regularly.
Dananjaya set the tone as he bowled four overs in succession in the power play taking 1-13. Left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan took 3-14 from 3,4 overs including the important wicket of captain Kieron Pollard who score only 13 runs from 15 balls.
However, it was Hasaranga who was named man of the match for hs 3-17 from four overs and an unbeaten 19 in the Lankan innings. He dismissed Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle and Fabian Allen with his wrist spin, line and flight.
“The wicket was slow and I was trying to bowl without giving too many boundaries and keeping a good line and length,” Hasaranga said. “Akila (Dananjaya) bowls with the new ball and I always bowl after the power play so I have to concentrate on line and length. I prefer to play that role.”
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat first. Openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nassinka put up a 95 wicket partnership for the first wicket laying a strong foundation for successive batsmen.
Though the remaining Lankan batsmen struggled, Ashen Bandara and Hasaranga kept the Lankan innings going.
When it came to the West Indies batting, the dangerous batsmen like Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle got out cheaply. Obed McCoy was the lone fighter who hit 23 runs from seven balls, but it was too late t change the outcome of the match.
The decider would be played on Sunday, apart from which the two teams would also play three one-day games followed by two test matches.
