Windies T20 captain Kieron Pollard is very aware that while his side cruised to victory against Sri Lanka in the first game of a T20 series in Pallekele could have gone very differently had Andre Russell not bowled Kusal Perera in the 18th over.
The West Indies won the game by 25 runs after scoring an imposing 196-4 on the back of Lendl Simmons’ unbeaten 67 and 30s from Brandon King (33), Russell (35) and Pollard (34).
It almost wasn’t enough, as Kusal counter-attacked brilliantly, slamming 66 from 38 deliveries, despite Oshane Thomas’ soul-crushing 5-28. Sri Lanka set off quickly in reply, but were hampered by Oshane Thomas who took three wickets in his first over, two of them feathered behind from quick short balls, and then collecting another wicket with the final delivery of each of his next two overs to take his tally for the innings to five.
Despite the wickets, Kusal Perera had ensured the hosts kept up with the rate, finishing the Powerplay with 28 from 12 balls. Hasaranga was the man who finally provided him prolonged support, and the pair put on 87 runs for the sixth wicket. But Hasaranga’s dismissal to Rovman Powell for 44 in the 16th over was the beginning of the end, as each of the next four overs also brought wickets to leave Sri Lanka all out for 171.
While Pollard understands that Kusal was dangerous and could be so again, he was not yet willing to divulge what his bowlers needed to do hold on to a more powerful position.
“I’ll tell you our plan to Kusal Perera after the next game, he’s obviously their mainstay,” he said.
Rather, Pollard wanted to focus on the effort the team put into creating a fairly comfortable victory in the end.
Thomas came in for some praise, with Pollard speaking about the work he had put in recently after questions arose about his fitness.
“Total team effort, Oshane Thomas brilliant, he has been doing hard work back home and it’s showing,” said Pollard.
Pollard also thought highly of Rovman Powell’s performance with the ball.
Powell removed Hasaranga in the 16th over, trapping him leg before and changing the course of the game, as well as Thisara Perera, who was also scoring quickly when he had him caught by Sheldon Cottrell.
“We had an unsung hero in Rovman Powell with the ball late in the innings,” said Pollard, recognizing that the efforts of Thomas and Simmons may have overshadowed the allrounder’s contribution.
