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.

Brandon King and Evin Lewis powered the West Indies to a commanding five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of their three-match T20 International series in Dambulla on Sunday. The duo's explosive partnership at the top of the order laid the foundation for the West Indies to chase down Sri Lanka’s total of 179 with five balls to spare.

Chasing 180 for victory, King and Lewis put on a blistering 107-run opening stand off just 55 balls, propelling the West Indies to 74 runs in the powerplay and setting the tone for the remainder of the chase. King, who was named Player of the Match and Match MVP, top-scored with a stylish 63, while Lewis smashed a quickfire 50. Their partnership effectively nullified the efforts of Sri Lanka's middle-order batters Kamindu Mendis (51) and Charith Asalanka (59), who had earlier helped the hosts to a competitive total.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers briefly slowed the West Indies' momentum in the middle overs, with Matheesha Pathirana taking 2 for 27. However, the West Indies remained in control throughout, and despite the loss of a few wickets, they had enough firepower in their batting lineup to seal the win. Sherfane Rutherford finished the game in style, hitting a boundary off the first ball of the final over to bring the West Indies home at 180 for 5.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 179 for 7, thanks to the 82-run partnership between Asalanka and Mendis. The West Indies bowlers did well to keep Sri Lanka in check, with Romario Shepherd picking up 2 for 39 and Shamar Joseph being the most economical, conceding just 27 runs from his four overs.

West Indies will take confidence from this victory as they head into the second match of the series, with Brandon King and Evin Lewis’ dominant opening partnership proving to be the key in their comfortable win.

Jamaican Fabian Allen had very little to do as South African Rilee Rossouw starred with an unbeaten 108 that lifted Jaffna Kings to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Colombo Strikers in Match 13 of the Lanka Premier League on Wednesday.

After Allen took one wicket for 26 runs to assist in restricting the Strikers to 188-8, Rossouw exploded in the Kings turn at bat, smashing 12 boundaries and six maximums in a 50-ball knock that secured victory at 190-3 with nine balls to spare, at Dambulla.

Scores: Colombo Strikers 188-8 (20 overs); Jaffna Kings 190-3 (18.3 overs)

After electing to bowl first, the Kings made early inroads, as Asitha Fernando removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made a quick fire 11-ball 27, with the score at 34-1.

Allen took 1-26 from four overs.

Glenn Phillips, with a 32-ball 58, and Angelo Perera, who was left unbeaten on 34, added 86 for the second wicket, before the latter retired hurt. Phillips’ struck six fours and three sixes in his top score, before he fell in the 15th over.

Following his dismissal, the remaining Strikers batsmen struggled to find rhythm, as Fernando (2-38) and Azmatullah Omarzai (2-31) did most damage for the Kings, with Allen getting in on the act.

Meanwhile, the Kings run chase started shakily, as the lost openers Pathum Nissanka (six) and Kusal Mendis (five), with the score at 30-2, before the Rossouw show.

The aggressive left-hander found a useful partner in Avishka Fernando, who made 58 off 35 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. The two put together a record third-wicket partnership of 120 runs, which surpassed the franchise’s previous best of 110 between Shoaib Malik and Avishka Fernando.

Though Fernando fell in the 15th over to Shadab Khan, the damage was already done, and Rossouw pressed on to seal the win, their fourth of the campaign.

With the win, Kings assumed pole position on the league table with eight points, followed by Galle Marvels (six points), with the Strikers, Dambulla Sixers and Kandy Falcons, all on four points each.

The first Youth Test match between Sri Lanka U19s and the West Indies U19s at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium has ended in a draw.

The West Indies entered Friday’s fourth and final day on 119-3 off 31.5 overs, a deficit of 313 runs.

Jordan Johnson, who entered the day unbeaten on 54, carried on to make a brilliant 149 off 207 balls including 11 fours and two sixes. Johnson also hit a century in the ODI series.

Steven Wedderburn entered the day on 28 and eventually made 41 while Nathan Edward contributed 36 as the West Indies were eventually bowled out for 309 in 89.5 overs.

Vihas Thewmika took 6-78 off 28.5 overs while Vishwa Lahiru took 3-61 off 24 overs for the hosts.

Sri Lanka then reached 122-4 in their second innings before play was called off and the spoils were shared.

Ravishan Nethsara hit an even 50.

The teams will now turn their attention to the second match beginning on Monday.

West Indies Under-19s will enter the fourth and final day of the first Youth Test against Sri Lanka U-19s facing a 313-run first innings deficit at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

The West Indies ended Thursday’s third day on 119-3 from 31.5 overs replying to Sri Lanka’s massive 432-8 declared.

Jordan Johnson has led the way for the young West Indians so far with an unbeaten 54 while his Jamaican countryman, Steven Wedderburn, is the other not out batsman on 28.

Vishwa Lahiru has picked up 2-22 in 11 overs for the hosts.

Sri Lanka Under-19s were 163-3 at stumps on a rain-affected day one of their first youth Test against the West Indies Under-19s at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday.

Only 38 overs were possible on the day after the hosts won the toss and decided to bat first.

Opener Pulindu Perera, who hit 155 in the third ODI last week, followed that up with a 66-ball 71 including eight fours and two sixes.

Captain Sineth Jayawardene, who opened the batting as well, made a run-a-ball 34 while Ravishan Nethsara ended the day 31*.

Tarrique Edward, Nathan Sealy and Isai Thorne are the West Indian wicket-takers, so far.

Jewel Andrew and Adrian Weir both hit half-centuries but they weren’t enough as the West Indies Under-19s came up short by 51 runs in the series-deciding third ODI against Sri Lanka Under-19s at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Friday.

Weir hit a 41-ball 52 at the top of the innings including seven fours and two sixes while Andrew, a wicket-keeper/batsman, made a top score of 80 from just 64 balls including eight fours and two four sixes.

Joshua Dorne also hit 32 as the tourists were restricted to 253 all out in 40.3 overs, 51 runs short of their target.

Vishwa Lahiru starred with 3-48 from 8.3 overs for Sri Lanka while Sineth Jayawardene (2-29 from three), Vihas Thewmika (2-29 from four) and Garuka Sanketh (2-44 from nine) all provided support.

Earlier, Sri Lanka made 304-8 off their 50 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Opener Pulindu Perera starred with a mammoth 155 off 140 balls including 17 fours and four sixes.

Nathan Edward took 3-66 from nine overs for the West Indies while Deshawn James (2-70 from 10) and Tarrique Edward (2-41 from 10) provided good support.

The teams will now turn their attention to a pair of youth Tests with the first beginning on Monday.