Oshane Thomas took five wickets for 28 runs as West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 25 runs in their first Twenty20 international on Wednesday. Thomas derailed Sri Lanka run chase in the Powerplay itself, after Lendl Simmons had earlier struck an unbeaten 67 in a total of 196/4.
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.
Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga, who is playing International cricket since last one and half decade along with Angelo Mathews who debuted in 2008, however defended the loss, saying that the team is still a young unit. Under Malinga’s captaincy Sri Lanka has now lost 12 T20Is out of 13 since December 2018. Moreover, yesterday’s loss was 6th straight defeat in shortest format for Sri Lanka under Malinga’s leadership.
“After ODI tournament, the team had good confidence. Unfortunately we lost five wickets very early, those wickets were very crucial, we didn’t get partnerships in the top order. We are a young unit, I think we’ll learn and deliver in the next match” said Malinga in the post match presentation.
The second and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Friday 6 March.
