West Indies' hopes of securing another T20 International series victory went up in smokes, as they suffered a nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka cruised in the decisive contest of the three-match series in Dambulla on Thursday.
It was another clinical performance from the hosts, who secured a 2-1 series triumph –their fifth home series win and third consecutive series victory of the year. They won the second contest by 73 runs on Tuesday, after West Indies won the series opener by five wickets.
After choosing to bat first, West Indies battled their way to a respectable total of 162-8, but their effort proved insufficient against a well-organized Sri Lankan side, which had everything going their way on the day.
Despite a competitive total, the Caribbean team’s bowling attack faltered under pressure, and some misfortune in the field compounded their struggles, as Sri Lanka raced to 166-1 with two overs to spare.
Scores: West Indies 162-8 (20 overs); Sri Lanka 166-1 (18 overs)
West Indies innings got off to a horrible start as they lost Evin Lewis to a one-ball duck in the first over bowled by Maheesh Theekshana. Brandon King (23) and Shai Hope (18) tried to repair the damage with a 37-run second wicket stand.
But just when they found rhythm, King got over ambitious and also had his stumps rattled by Theekshana. That resulted in a mini collapse, as Roston Chase (8), Hope, and Sherfane Rutherford (six), followed in quick succession, with the score at 62-5 at the top of the 12th over.
However, captain Rovman Powell, who topscored with 37, and Gudakesh Motie (32) went on the counter with a 54-run sixth wicket partnership that gradually rattled the Sri Lankans. Both players struck three maximums and a solitary four.
Again, just as they found a decent tempo, the partnership was broken when Motie was stumped off Wanindu Hasaranga.
Powell fought on before he holed out to Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the deep off seamer Matheesha Pathirana. Romario Shepherd’s 18-run cameo saw the Caribbean side past the 160 mark.
Theekshana (2-19) and Hasaranga (2-24) got most wickets for Sri Lanka.
West Indies total seemed very much defendable on a turning pitch, especially as they failed to chase down a similar target in the second game. Add to that the fact that they brought in Fabian Allen as a third spinner to try to make the most of the spin-friendly conditions.
However, it was not to be, as Sri Lanka made light work of the target. Kudal Mendis, 68 not out, and Kusal Perera, 55 not out, got the job done, after Pathum Nissanka (39) and the former battered West Indies into submission with a 60-run stand in the Powerplay.
Mendis struck three sixes and five fours in his 50-ball knock, while Perera used 36 balls and struck seven boundaries. Nissanki also had seven boundaries and a solitary six.
Motie got the lone wicket.
Powell in a post-game interview felt they had enough runs on the board, but were undone by a superlative run-chase.
“We had enough runs. If at the start of the game, if you said we would get 160 on a turning wicket, we would have taken it. But credit to Sri Lanka. Had we controlled the Powerplay better as a bowling group, we would have made a game of it. Giving away 60-70 in the Powerplay, it is always tough to come back. Sri Lankan spinners completely out-bowled our spinners, and we knew it would be a showdown of the spinners, about who bowled better and who batted better,” Powell said in his assessment.
“Still a lot of positives when you come to Sri Lanka and push them. My guys gave good efforts; our fast bowlers gave good efforts on these tracks. As a batting group, our guys showed we can play against spin. Want to say thanks to the people of Sri Lanka. They have been very nice to us as a touring time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka, was full of praise for his team’s performance.
“Secret was the top order batters batted really well and they gave their best shot. We played good cricket (even against India) and we just needed a bit of momentum and we did that in the second game. I wasn’t concerned about losing the toss much, but when they scored more than 160, I was a bit (concerned). But I knew if our top order batted well, we could do well, so I am really happy and good to win the series,” Asalanka said.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Starc hails Australia's 'grit and determination' after career-best display
Mitchell Starc praised Australia's "grit and determination" after they skittled India out for 180 on the first day of the day-night second Test in Adelaide.
The left-arm fast bowler produced a career-best 6-48 with the pink ball to make light work of the Indian batting line-up as the hosts asserted control.
Australia then ended the first day on 86-1, just 94 short of India's first innings total, as they look to bounce back from a 295-run defeat in the opening Test in Perth.
The 35-year-old gave Australia the upper hand from the get-go by trapping India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in front of the stumps in the first ball of the game.
Starc also accounted for the wickets of top-order batters KL Rahul (37) and Virat Kohli (31) before wrapping up the innings with three more in the end, including that of India's top scorer Nitish Kumar Reddy (42).
"It was a good day all round. We were a fraction wide in the first hour but after that we were bang on with the ball," Starc told ABC at the conclusion of play.
"With the pink ball you are never out of the game in terms of it doing something. There might be periods when it doesn't do as much, but then it might start doing things. But not a lot of what I do changes.
His previous best in Test cricket was the 6-50 he took against Sri Lanka at Galle in August 2016. Starc now has 72 wickets in day-night Tests - 29 more than the next-best bowler Nathan Lyon on 43.
Jasprit Bumrah (1-13) sent back Australia opener Usman Khawaja but Nathan McSweeney remains unbeaten on 38, and he will have the company of Marnus Labuschagne, on 20, when the play resumes on day two.
"To get batting on day one and go to stumps with grit and determination was fantastic, in what are the most difficult conditions in pink-ball cricket. If we have a successful first session on day two, we hold the cards," Starc said.
Barbados and Guyana’s absence derails critical CWI governance vote
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been forced to postpone a pivotal vote on governance reform after representatives from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) failed to attend the meeting, leaving the body without a quorum.
The meeting, convened to deliberate on reforms recommended in the Wehby Report, required the presence of all Full Member shareholders to proceed. While the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB), Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), and Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB) were present, Guyana formally indicated its non-attendance, and Barbados did not provide a response. This marks the second instance of both entities abstaining from such meetings, the first occurring in 2021.
CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow expressed disappointment at the absence of two critical stakeholders at such a decisive moment for the future of West Indies cricket:
"It is deeply disappointing that representatives from Guyana and Barbados did not see the importance of being present at this crucial juncture. Governance reform is critical to ensuring our organization’s growth, sustainability, and ability to inspire pride across the region. Their absence undermines the collective effort required to move forward."
The meeting, announced on November 13, 2024, was expected to focus on structural adjustments to CWI’s governance, including term limits for the President and Vice President, enhanced accountability measures, and other steps to modernize the organization’s framework.
Commissioned in 2019, the Wehby Report outlines a roadmap to reform CWI’s governance by promoting transparency, accountability, and alignment with global best practices. Key recommendations include restructuring the Board of Directors, modernizing operations, and enhancing stakeholder engagement.
Despite progress on some fronts, the implementation of these reforms has faced delays, exacerbated by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed changes are widely regarded as essential to securing the long-term viability of cricket in the Caribbean.
Dr. Shallow emphasized the critical importance of the reforms: "This meeting was not just about structural changes; it was about safeguarding the future of cricket in the Caribbean. Change is never easy, but it is absolutely necessary. We must demonstrate to the cricketing world and our stakeholders that we are committed to improving and evolving as an organization."
CWI will now seek written responses from its members on the proposed resolutions. While this setback complicates the process, President Shallow reaffirmed CWI’s commitment to the reform agenda:
"The responsibility to lead and inspire rests with all of us. While today’s outcome is a setback, it will not deter us from our mission to transform West Indies cricket. I encourage all stakeholders to prioritize the greater good of the game and come together to ensure we continue to build an organization that every Caribbean citizen can be proud of."
CWI’s leadership remains committed to implementing the Wehby Report recommendations and is exploring alternative pathways to ensure these essential reforms move forward. The absence of Guyana and Barbados highlights the challenges of fostering unity within the organization but also underscores the urgency of achieving consensus for the betterment of West Indies cricket.
Nissanka puts Sri Lanka in strong position despite Verreynne ton
Pathum Nissanka spearheaded Sri Lanka's chase as they closed out day two of their second Test against South Africa in a strong position.
Nissanka scored 89 from 157 deliveries, with that knock including 11 fours and one six, before he was bowled by Keshav Maharaj (1-46).
South Africa's Kyle Verreynne played a starring role with the bat for the hosts earlier on in Friday's play at St George's Park, plundering 58 from just 50 balls for an unbeaten 105.
Verreynne's efforts saw South Africa reach 358 before they were bowled out, but Nissanka and his fellow opener Dimuth Karunaratne made good in-roads before the latter was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada (1-40) in the 16th over.
Proteas wicketkeeper Verreynne took the catch, and he followed that up by sending Dinesh Chandimal (44) packing from a Dane Paterson delivery, but by that stage Sri Lanka had progressed to 150.
They had reached 199 by the time Maharaj got the crucial wicket of Nissanka, who was dropped early in his innings, 11 overs later, though the damage had been largely done, with Angelo Mathews (40 not out) and Kamindu Mendis (30) further chipping away at South Africa's lead before stumps, which the hosts reached on 242-3.
Data Debrief: Verreynne drags South Africa out of trouble
Matters looked bleak at the start of play for the Proteas, who were on 269-7, and they had owed many of those runs to Ryan Rickelton, who scored 101 on day one.
Yet Verreynne anchored their innings and dragged them to a respectable total, tallying up his third Test ton in the process in his 22nd match in the longest format.
He clubbed 12 fours and three maximums, with his total coming from a 78.94 strike rate.
But with Verreynne and Rickelton combining for 206 of South Africa's 358 runs, while Temba Bavuma contributed 78, the rest of the Proteas batters must step up in their second innings.
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