Debutant Wellalage, Asalanka stun West Indies as Sri Lanka draw level

Sri Lanka scored 162 runs and lost 5 wickets, with Nissanka contributing 54 runs and Kusal Mendis 26 runs. The West Indies managed to score only 89 runs, with Powell being their top scorer at 20. Wellalage took 3 wickets for just 9 runs, while Asalanka and Theekshana added to the West Indies’ troubles by claiming 2 wickets each for 6 and 7 runs, respectively. As a result, Sri Lanka won the match by 73 runs.

Sri Lanka's spin bowlers dominated the West Indies batsmen on a spinning pitch in Dambulla, securing a 73-run victory in the second ODI and tying the series at one match each.

In his long-awaited T20I debut, newcomer Dunith Wellalage stood out among the bowlers, recording impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 9 runs. Meanwhile, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Charith Asalanka each took 2 wickets. Matheesha Pathirana was the only fast bowler to claim a wicket in the innings.

Pathum Nissanka laid a strong foundation for Sri Lanka with his 54 runs off 49 balls, as the team maintained a consistent scoring rate after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Kamindu Mendis also contributed with runs, but the match truly showcased the prowess of Sri Lanka's spinners, who completely overpowered the West Indies during their chase.

Sri Lanka Spinners Show Off Their Skills

Hasaranga, Sri Lanka's leading spinner, delivered his first ball of the match during the 11th over of the opposing team's innings. Surprisingly, the most noteworthy part of that moment wasn't just that he took a wicket with it.

Even more surprising was the fact that he was the sixth bowler brought into the game by Sri Lanka, yet the West Indies had already crumbled to 39 for 6. But who needs Hasaranga when you have the well-known off-spin skills of Charith Asalanka? With two left-handed batsmen at the crease, the Sri Lanka captain decided to bowl himself and a right-arm version of Kamindu Mendis before calling upon Hasaranga.

And it was effective as well. In his two overs, Asalanka took two wickets while conceding only six runs, and surprisingly, that wasn't even the best performance at that point in the match. That distinction went to Wellalage, who, despite his experience on the international scene, had managed to secure three wickets of his own.

Before the match, Asalanka expressed his anticipation for spinners to have a significant impact in the first T20I. His expectations were not only met but exceeded in the second match. While Gudakesh Motie's ability to spin the ball sharply in the first innings might have raised concerns for the West Indies, they were still unprepared for the remarkable offbreak delivered by Theekshana at 100kph.

Time To Return To The Drawing Board

In the opening T20I, the West Indies batsmen flawlessly executed their strategies and dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers. They moved around the crease confidently, utilized the full width of the pitch, and everything they tried worked well, making the last over's conclusion feel much easier than it actually was.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, learned from their experiences and returned with renewed strength. They were ready for the challenges posed by the surface, substituting pace-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe with Wellalage.

The West Indies, on the other hand, appeared to overlook this detail, as they included only two spinners in their team. Motie and Roston Chase performed adequately, conceding only 37 runs in total over their combined eight overs. It wouldn't be unexpected to see Fabian Allen brought into the squad for the final match.

The West Indies' batters appeared uncertain when facing the various spin challenges posed by Sri Lanka, who skillfully took advantage of the conditions with smart changes in speed, line, and length. If the West Indies hope to be competitive in Thursday's final match, they must quickly develop some strategies.

Nissanka Shines: A Look Back

At first glance, Nissanka's performance appeared to be more harmful than helpful—and it's easy to see why when considering the typical expectations of modern T20 cricket. During his innings, he scored 42 runs through boundaries (including 9 fours and a six), but he also faced 27 balls without scoring.

This moment really captured the essence of Sri Lanka's entire batting performance. They faced 58 deliveries without scoring—a significant amount. In the first ten overs, they managed to score less than five runs in five of those overs. Interestingly, about half of their powerplay score of 52 came from just one over bowled by Shamar Joseph, during which Nissanka had a mix of good fortune and aggressive batting, racking up 25 runs.

If that over was intended to kick off Sri Lanka's aggressive play, Nissanka and his teammates had different plans. That over quickly made the first three overs, where Sri Lanka managed to scrape together just eight runs, a distant memory. By the end of the powerplay, their run rate had climbed to a solid 8.66, which turned out to be the peak for them during their batting innings.

During the remaining time Nissanka was at the batting crease, he mixed together stretches of balls without runs and occasional singles with a few boundaries. However, his presence at the crease allowed him to maintain this rhythm consistently, helping Sri Lanka keep their scoring rate above seven runs per over.

In T20 cricket, many view anchors as outdated, but on a pitch like this, Nissanka—who was awarded Player of the Match—showed his worth. While it might not have been obvious initially, he provided stability that enabled players like Perera to take some early chances. With wickets remaining for the final overs, the middle and lower order were able to swing freely. This approach led Sri Lanka to score 85 runs in the last ten overs, just four runs shy of the West Indies' overall score.