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• Chase insists Windies undone by sharply turning pitch in 73-run loss to Sri Lanka

  Despite their crushing 73-run loss to Sri Lanka in the second T20I, West Indies vice-captain Roston Chase dismissed the notion that his team struggles to handle spin, as he insisted that they were undone by the sharply turning pitch.

  Chase was among a number of West Indies batters that fell cheaply, as they bowled out for a meager 89 in 16.1 overs, chasing 163 for victory in Dambullah on Tuesday.

  The Caribbean faltered on the turning wicket as Sri Lanka's spinners wreaked havoc. Only captain Rovman Powell (20), Alzarri Joseph (16), and Sherfane Rutherford (14) managed to break into double figures, a stark contrast to what transpired in the opening game on Sunday, which West Indies won by five wickets.

  However, Chase pointed out that the Caribbean side’s batting woes were more about adjusting to extreme conditions than a general inability to play spin.

  “Obviously, the first game, the wicket was a true wicket, and obviously, this game, the wicket was spinning a lot more. So I guess the (Sri Lankan) guys were scared to put us back on a good wicket after losing the first game. So they think they prepared wicket in their favour given their home advantage, and obviously we didn't come out on top,” a seemingly annoyed Chase said in a post-game press conference.

  “We're not accustomed to the wicket spinning like that. We are comfortable playing spin, but I guess when the wicket is spinning at that pace it's a bit different from what we are accustomed to,” he noted. 

  Sri Lanka's spin-heavy attack, led by debutant Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and captain Charith Asalanka, tied the West Indians in knots to level the three-match series at one game apiece.

  Wellalage proved especially destructive with 3-9 from his four overs, while Asalanka (2-6), Theekshana (2-7), and Hasaranga (2-32) shared six wickets between them. Seamer Matheesha Pathirana accounted for the other wicket.

  Chase, who himself thrives as an all-rounder, emphasized the importance of quick adaptation, especially in the conditions they are likely to encounter again in the decisive contest on Thursday.

  “Obviously, we have to probably bring out the sweep a bit more, probably reverse sweep and conventional sweep a bit more, and just try to work the ball a bit more for longer and then try to power the ball in the backend,” Chase reasoned.

  “So, we have to go in our team meeting and come up with the plans. Sit down, have a team talk, and obviously put ideas out there and see what's the best ideas we can come up with to counter the spinning ball,” he added.

  The turning wicket at Dambullah caught the West Indies off guard, and it wasn’t just the batsmen who struggled. Despite a few tight bowling spells from Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd, the team was also untidy in the field, allowing Sri Lanka to post 162-5.

  Pathum Nissanka, who topscored with 54 off 49 balls, and Kusal Mendis (26), went on the charge in a 77-run opening stand, while Kusal Perera chipped in with 24, and Kamindu Mendis contributed 19.

  A few dropped catches and misfields also aided Sri Lanka along the way, leaving the West Indies under added pressure when they took to the crease.

  “I thought myself and [Gudakesh] Moti bowled well, but obviously Moti bowled to two right-handers, and I thought they didn't really take much risk to him. And then obviously, they knew that we only had two spinners, so they mainly took the chances against the pace,” Chase shared.

  “I think if we had a next spinner, yeah, I think it would have been better for us. But we can't dwell on that after the team is selected. So it's just for us to go back to the drawing board now and obviously think about playing spinning ball a bit more,” he ended.

• Spin carnage: Debutant Dunith Wellalage grabs 3-9 as Sri Lanka hammer spineless Windies by 73 runs

  West Indies batting frailty against spin bowling was once again at the forefront of a humbling 73-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the second T20 encounter on Tuesday, leaving the three-match series finely poised at one win apiece.

  Chasing 163 for victory, the Caribbean side collapsed to a paltry 89 all out in 16.1 overs — their fourth-lowest total in T20I cricket. It was a dismal batting display, marked by their inability to handle Sri Lanka's spin-heavy attack, which ruthlessly exposed the West Indies' vulnerabilities.

  Only captain Rovman Powell (20), Alzarri Joseph (16), and Sherfane Rutherford (14) managed to break into double figures in Dambullah. The rest of the batting lineup crumbled, as Sri Lanka's spinners, led by debutant Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and captain Charith Asalanka, tied the West Indians in knots on a turning track.

  Scores: Sri Lanka 162-5 (20 overs); West Indies 89 all out (16.1 overs)

  Wellalage proved especially destructive with 3-9 from his four overs, while Asalanka (2-6), Theekshana (2-7), and Hasaranga (2-32) shared six wickets between them. Seamer Matheesha Pathirana accounted for the other wicket.

  The Caribbean side’s batting implosion was emblematic of a broader struggle — an inability to adjust to the spin-friendly conditions, as their chase was derailed early, with openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis falling cheaply.

  Wickets tumbled rapidly thereafter, with little resistance from Powell and Alzarri Joseph in particular at the backend, as they shared in the team’s highest partnership of 23 runs. The capitulation reflected not only technical flaws but also an apparent lack of composure under pressure, something Head coach Darren Sammy and company will have to address ahead of the decisive game on Thursday.

  While the batting was the primary issue, West Indies also struggled in the field earlier in the match.

  Sri Lanka opting to bat first, made their intentions clear as Pathum Nissanka, who topscored with 54 off 49 balls, and Kusal Mendis (26), went on the charge in a 77-run opening stand.

  Still, West Indies were far from their best in the field, as dropped chances by Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie, as well as misfields from Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, allowed Sri Lanka to gain crucial extra runs.

  Nissanka slammed nine fours and a six in his knock, while Kusal Perera chipped in with 24, and Kamindu Mendis contributed 19, as West Indies gradually pulled things back from a more daunting target, which mattered little in the end.

  Romario Shepherd led the bowling with 2-23.

• Lewis and King star in West Indies' T20I opener against Sri Lanka

  Brandon King and Evin Lewis starred at the top of the order to help the West Indies to a five-wicket victory in the first match of their T20I series with Sri Lanka. 

  Despite strong showings from Kamindu Mendis (51) and Charith Asalanka (59), the West Indies' opening duo did the damage as King's 63 and Lewis' half-century paved the way for victory with five balls to spare.

  Sri Lanka started poorly with the bat, losing Pathum Nissanka (11), Kusal Perera (six) and Kusal Mendis (19) inside the first eight overs of the encounter. 

  Mendis and Asalanka helped steady the ship, with their knocks helping the hosts to 179-7 from their 20 overs, aided by the brisk cameo from Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who struck 17 runs from 11 deliveries. 

  The tourists wasted no time in chasing their target, with King and Lewis doing the early damage with their incredible 107-run partnership before the duo fell to Mendis (1-14) and Matheesha Pathirana (2-27).

  Despite losing three wickets in quick succession, the pressure never mounted on the Windies, with handy contributions from Rovman Powell (13) and Roston Chase (19) helping them on their way ahead of the second match on Tuesday. 

  Data Debrief: Lewis makes special return

  After a 723-day hiatus from the West Indies side, Lewis made his much-anticipated return to international cricket with a sensational half-century. 

  His knock included five fours and four sixes, ending the contest with a strike rate of 176.8, a total only bettered by his partner, King (190.9).