Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That's it from us folks, at the end of a bizarre but compelling first match between these two teams. Madushka Balasuriya's report should be in soon. We'll be back with you for the second T20, in a little less than 48 hours' time. Take it easy.

Pollard again: "Kudos to the bowling line up for restricting them to 132. We started off pretty well and faltered in the middle with the hat-trick coming there. But we backed ourselves. If hitting sixes is our strength, we want to capitalise on our strengths. The series is going to be their spinners against our batters. We're not going to hide from that reality. It's about time that we start winning cricket games. We've tried to give guys opportunities with an eye on the World Cup. But we need to win cricket games, so we have to balance it."

Mathews: "At the start if was really good batting by Nissanka and Dickwella. We didn't assess the conditions after the first few overs. 160 would have been a good score on this. I knew we needed wickets to win this game. Had that catch been taken it would have been an interesting match. But mistakes do happen.

I though Akila and Wanindu Hasaranga bowled brilliantly - they had the batsmen guessing. That's a plus point.

Pollard as we know is very destructive. What I told Akila was to go for his wicket even if he gets hit for six sixes. If he miscued one we could have got him out. Unfortunately it didn't happen."

Abhinav : "Who knew an innings of 4 of 17 balls is just what a team would need in a T20 match while chasing "

Pollard, who is player of the match: "I felt I could hit six sixes after the third one. I did it in the Super 50 as well. I just backed myself. Once I had five sixes I knew I had the bowler on the back foot. He was going around the wicket and it was difficult for him. I just told myself: go for it"

What an incredible chase - one in which West Indies flexed their batting power, and suggested that phenomena such as momentum don't really apply to a team with such extraordinary gifts. When Akila Dananjaya took that hat-trick, you could sense that Sri Lanka had a chance of defending their poor total. But within the space of a few balls, Kieron Pollard had pounded them out of the game, taking the same bowler for six sixes.

Wanindu Hasaranga gave Sri Lanka another sniff, but a dropped catch off Holder (again off the bowling of Dananjaya) prevented the match from having a final twist.

13.1
6
Pradeep to Holder, SIX, that's the game folks. Only way this game could have ended really. This is in the slot for Holder, pitching too full outside off stump. He clears the leg and thwacks it hiiigh over wide long on for six. West Indies have taken this crazy first game

Nuwan Pradeep comes into the attack for the first time.

END OF OVER:
13 | 2 Runs | WI: 128/6 (4 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 9.84, RRR: 0.57)

  • Dwayne Bravo4 (17b)
  • Jason Holder23 (23b)
  • Ashen Bandara1-0-2-0
  • Dushmantha Chameera3-0-29-0
12.6
0
Bandara to Bravo, no run, another good legbreak, pitching on off stump. Bravo manages to play it back down the pitch
12.5
0
Bandara to Bravo, no run, slower through the air, and it rips off the surface, having pitched outside off. Bravo lets it go
12.4
1
Bandara to Holder, 1 run, flatter through the air, pitches on the stumps and straightens. Holder gets back and hits it down to long on
12.3
0
Bandara to Holder, no run, even loopier through the air, but a little fuller. Holder drives but hits straight to cover
12.2
0
Bandara to Holder, no run, tossed up, pitching on off stump. Holder blocks it.
12.1
1
Bandara to Bravo, 1 run, floats this onto leg stump.Bravo gets down and sweeps it down to fine leg

Numan mahmud: "This wi team seriously needs a guy call Shai Hope who can rotate the strike"

Ashen Bandara to bowl his leggies.

END OF OVER:
12 | 7 Runs | WI: 126/6 (6 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 10.50, RRR: 0.75)

  • Jason Holder22 (20b)
  • Dwayne Bravo3 (14b)
  • Dushmantha Chameera3-0-29-0
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-12-3
11.6
0
Chameera to Holder, no run, good bouncer to finish. Passes by Holder's head at 141kph, and Dickwella has to climb to his fullest height to pull that one down
11.5
4
Chameera to Holder, FOUR, a bit of width outside off as Chameera tries another slower ball, and Holder doesn't hold back this time, flaying it through the covers to beat the diving efforts of the sweeper. Rocked back quickly to latch on to that one.

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st52LMP SimmonsE Lewis
2nd0CH GayleLMP Simmons
3rd0LMP SimmonsN Pooran
4th10LMP SimmonsKA Pollard
5th39KA PollardJO Holder
6th0JO HolderFA Allen
7th33DJ BravoJO Holder