A Sri Lankan fan captures moments with Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage (2nd R) and Matheesha Pathirana (R) after Sri Lanka secured a 73-run victory in the second Twenty20 international cricket match against the West Indies at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Tuesday. — AFP
Sri Lanka bounced back to tie the three-match T20 series with a commanding 73-run win over the West Indies on Tuesday, achieving their largest margin of victory against the Caribbean side. The impressive performance in Dambulla marked Sri Lanka's sixth-largest T20 win against any team, surpassing their previous best against the West Indies—a 57-run victory in London in 2009. After setting a competitive target of 163, Sri Lanka's spinners delivered a relentless performance, restricting the visitors to just 89 runs in 16.1 overs. This total was the West Indies' lowest against Sri Lanka in T20 internationals and their sixth lowest ever. The spin-dominated attack claimed nine wickets, with only three overs of pace bowled, exploiting a deteriorating pitch that left the West Indies struggling to find their footing in the chase. Sri Lanka's spinners struck early, removing both openers within the first four overs. Evin Lewis and Brandon King, who had powered the West Indies' explosive start in the first match with a 107-run partnership, were effectively neutralized by Sri Lanka's bowlers. Debutant all-rounder Dunith Wellalage made an immediate impact, dismissing King with a sharp stumping in his first over and narrowly missing Lewis on his first ball—a missed review kept Lewis in the game for a brief moment. Wellalage struck again, claiming Roston Chase at slip, as the West Indies stumbled to 17-3 and struggled further to 21-3 by the end of the power play. Wellalage's remarkable debut saw him finish with figures of 3-9 in four overs. Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka described the win as "very pleasing" and praised Wellalage's performance as "sensational". Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, and Wanindu Hasaranga each contributed two wickets, solidifying Sri Lanka's dominance in the game. Sri Lanka's total of 162 was anchored by a 72-run partnership between openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka led with 54 off 49 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. "It was a tough wicket to bat on," Nissanka noted. "I took some calculated risks—we aimed for a target of 160 and were pleased to reach it." Contributions from Kusal Perera (24) and Kamindu Mendis (19) helped push the total past 160, setting a challenging target for the West Indies. On the visitors' side, spinners Chase and Gudakesh Motie were economical, conceding only 37 runs in their combined eight overs, raising questions about the West Indies' decision not to include an additional spinner. The stage is now set for a decisive series finale on Thursday, also in Dambulla, with eighth-ranked Sri Lanka aiming for an upset series victory over the third-ranked West Indies. West Indies captain Rovman Powell acknowledged Sri Lanka's effective use of the conditions and admitted that his team "didn't bat well". However, he expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back in the series decider. "We will review our performance and reassess our strategy," he said. The West Indies secured a commanding five-wicket victory in the first match on Sunday. The T20 series will be followed by a three-match ODI series.
