Thu Oct 24 04:17:32 UTC 2024: **Summary of the Article:**
– **Match Outcome**: The West Indies lost to Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the third T20I held on October 17 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
– **West Indies Batting**:
– They elected to bat first but struggled initially, falling to 62 for 5 in the 12th over.
– Rovman Powell (captain) scored 37 runs off 27 balls, becoming the seventh West Indian to reach 1500 T20I runs.
– Gudakesh Motie made a significant contribution with 32 off 15 balls, helping stabilize the innings with a sixth-wicket partnership of 54 runs with Powell.
– Romario Shepherd contributed 18 runs, bringing the total to 162 for 8.
– The Sri Lankan bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, each took two wickets.
– **Sri Lanka Batting**:
– Sri Lanka started strongly, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis scoring rapidly.
– Gudakesh Motie took the wicket of Nissanka (39 runs), but Mendis and Kusal Perera remained dominant.
– Mendis scored 68 off 50 balls and Perera added an unbeaten 55 as they achieved 166 for 1 in 18 overs, winning the match with 12 balls to spare.
– **Significance of the Match**: This victory marked Sri Lanka’s first bilateral T20 series win over the West Indies since their last T20 series defeat in March 2023.
– **Next Steps**: The teams will prepare for the first of three T20 internationals at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Sunday.
– **Coach’s Remarks**: Head Coach Daren Sammy expressed that the players could take confidence from the series performance.
First Piper 