Sri Lanka’s spinners ripped through the West Indies batters on a turning Dambulla surface to level the series at one apiece, as they won the second ODI by 73 runs.
Debutant Dunith Wellalage– belatedly making his T20I bow- was the pick of the bowlers, ending with figures of 3-9, while Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka grabbed two each.
Matheesha Pathirana was the sole seamer to pick up a wicket in the innings.
With the bat, Pathum Nissanka‘s 54 off 49 had helped set the platform as Sri Lanka did well to keep a steady run rate throughout their innings, having won the toss and elected to bat first.
There were also runs for Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis, but this game was all about Sri Lanka’s spinners who showed total dominance in the West Indian chase.
Sri Lanka spinners flex their skills
Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s premier spinner, bowled his first delivery of the game in the 11th over of the chase.
And the fact that he picked up a wicket with that delivery was perhaps the least remarkable aspect about it.
What was more astounding was that he was the sixth bowler used by Sri Lanka, and West Indies had still managed to collapse to 39-6.
But who needs Hasaranga when you have the world-renowned offspin stylings of, um, Charith Asalanka.
Yes, with two left-hand batters at the crease, the Sri Lanka captain opted to introduce himself and a right-arm variant of Kamindu Mendis ahead of Hasaranga.
And it worked too. Asalanka’s two overs brought two wickets for just six runs – and those weren’t even the best figures at that stage of the game.
No, that honour belonged to Wellalage – though he is by no means new to the international stage – who had grabbed three for himself.
In the lead-up to the game, Asalanka had stated how he had expected more for the spinners in the first T20I, and his wish was granted and then some in the second.
Gudakesh Motie turning the ball square in the first innings would have set off West Indies’ alarm bells, but not even that could have prepared them for a 100kph sharp-turning off-break from Theekshana.
WI need to go back to drawing board
The first T20I had seen the West Indies batters execute their plans to perfection and put Sri Lanka’s bowlers to the sword.
Stepping out, moving around in the crease, using the depth, everything came off, with the last over-finish in reality nowhere close as it looked.
Sri Lanka, though, took their learnings and came back stronger – mainly in that they were prepared for what this surface was set to offer, replacing pace-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe with Wellalage.
West Indies, however, seemed to have missed the memo, and had only two spinners in their line-up.
And those two – Motie and Roston Chase – did their part, going for just 37 off their collective eight overs. It will not be a surprise if Fabian Allen gets a go in the final game.
West Indies’ batters then seemed at a loss on how to deal with Sri Lanka’s array of spin threats, expertly utilising the conditions along with clever variations in pace, line and length.
West Indies will need to come up with plans soon if they are to pose a threat in Thursday’s decider. (ESPNcricinfo)
