Player of the Match
Player of the Match

And with that it's a wrap from us. The action remains in Dambulla for game two, which will be on Tuesday evening. Until then, from Fidel, myself and the rest of the team, have a good one!

Rovman Powell: It's always important when you come to Sri Lanka to take an early lead, we know that Sri Lanka is a team that play excellent cricket at home. [toss?]The toss will always be vital, but it's for any team to throw the first punch. Once you get on top you try to stay on top for as long as possible. [Depth?] Yeah definitely, I spread it through the groupd that individuals have to stand up to be counted, and once they do that, then other members in the team will carry it over the line. [opening stand?] It was a spontaneous in the sense that the both of them played their natural game, we tried to embrace that as a team. It's just a combination that has worked for us."

Charith Asalanka: [Powerplay?] In my point of view, it's more good shots than bad bowling. I should give credit to their batters first of all. But I think we could have done a little better in the powerplay. [plan?] I'm still experimenting, I just wanted to bowl a few overs from Chamindu because he's an allrounder, and a part-time bowler for me. But it didn't work for this match. Might start with Maheesh [Theekshana] in the next matches. [T20 form worrying?] The plus point is that we're playing good cricket. We have to improve a few areas, including our powerplay bowling, that's the main concern as a captain. We'll have a chat and do better in the next games."

Brandon King is Player of the Match for his 63 off 33: "My role is to try and get the team off to a good start. It's a good wicket, so it came off well. [coming back from injury?] It's more mental than anything at this point, and having the confidence in your body to do what you usually do. Being out for a couple of months is tough but I'm really glad to be back. [approach?] Chasing the score like 180, you have to have a good powerplay. Our roles are very clear and we always take that risk to get the team off to a really good start."

Time for the post-match presentation...

Mike Silva : "My chocolate lava cake only just arrived… I guess it's a comisseratory cake rather than celebratory one…"

Akindi: "Win or lose massive respect to the SL bowlers for the comeback and bringing it this far."

Irfan Ahmed: "I was not expecting this match to be finish in last over." --- Yeah I think Sri Lanka can be happy with their death bowling efforts. But they lost the game in the powerplay. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of Binura or Thushara - or both - included in the next game.

11.02pm Well, it got a little nervy towards the end but such was the dominance of the West Indian openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis in the first 10 overs, that no amount of clutch death bowling from Sri Lanka could evade the inevitable. Sri Lanka having been put into bat did well to set a challenging target of 180, courtesy fifties from Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, but King and Lewis trumped them and then some with a 107-run opening stand in just 9 overs. Once that stand ended, Sri Lanka chipped away, but the chase was always in hand.

19.1
4
Pathirana to Rutherford, FOUR, And it takes just one delivery! West Indies win it! This was full on off, and chipped high over mid-off. Not timed but enough to trickle over the ropes. West Indies win the first T20I by 5 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series

4 needed from 6 as the final over begins. Only four fielders out as Sri Lanka are behind the over rate.

END OF OVER:
19 | 9 Runs | WI: 176/5 (4 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.26, RRR: 4.00)

  • Sherfane Rutherford10 (11b)
  • Romario Shepherd1 (2b)
  • Asitha Fernando4-0-37-0
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-23-2
18.6
1
Fernando to Rutherford, 1 run, full on middle and leg, driven along the ground to long-on. Single to end the over

West Indies inching home. 5 needed from 7.

18.5
1
Fernando to Shepherd, 1 run, low full toss on the pads, whipped to deep midwicket. Another single

6 needed from 8

18.4
1
Fernando to Rutherford, 1 run, full on the stumps, hacked across the line down to deep square leg. Just the single

three twos off the first three deliveries. Smart cricket from the West Indies.

18.3
2
Fernando to Rutherford, 2 runs, Low full-toss, has a swipe across the line as this ends up being chipped over the bowler. Again they run brilliantly to find the second as long-off comes forward to collect
18.2
2
Fernando to Rutherford, 2 runs, Yorker on leg stumps, squeezed towards deep midwicket and they hustle for the second. Excellent running
18.1
2
Fernando to Rutherford, 2 runs, Well fielded on the cover boundary! This was full and on off and Rutherford gave this cover drive his all, but deep point has made immense ground to put in the dive and save this. Kamindu is the man out there

13 needed off 12. We know Pathirana will bowl the last, West Indies will not want it to get that far. Asitha has the ball.

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 167/5 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.27, RRR: 6.50)

  • Romario Shepherd0 (1b)
  • Sherfane Rutherford2 (6b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-23-2
  • Maheesh Theekshana4-0-31-1
17.6
0
Pathirana to Shepherd, no run, Oof nearly! This was searing 149kph yorker that Shepherd gets an inside edge on to his boot

Can Pathirana channel his inner Malinga here? Romario Shepherd is the new batter.

17.5
W
Pathirana to Chase, OUT, Edged and gone! This was pace-off on a good length, wide of off. Chase has a swing at it but he only gets a thin edge. Kusal has to dive low to his right, in front of him as well, but he holds on

RL Chase c †BKG Mendis b Pathirana 19 (38m 16b 1x4 0x6) SR: 118.75

17.4
1
Pathirana to Rutherford, 1 run, full on the pads, 126kph slower one, tapped to the right of short midwicket and they scramble a single
17.3
0
Pathirana to Rutherford, no run, Wide yorker, ends up a full toss but Rutherford can't get bat on it. Dot ball
17.2
1
Pathirana to Chase, 1 run, better yorker this time, just outside off 147kph. Some reverse swing as well into the right hander. Squeezed through point for one

15 needed off 17.

17.2
1w
Pathirana to Chase, 1 wide, Looks for the yorker but just misses the line as this slides down leg
17.1
2
Pathirana to Chase, 2 runs, length ball and straight, 145kph, whipped towards square leg for a couple

Asalanka has a few words with his ward and moves back to mid-off. Long-on out, deep backward square in place.

Okay, this is the moment you suspect. Pathirana back into the attack to bowl the first of his remaining two overs.

END OF OVER:
17 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 162/4 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.52, RRR: 6.00)

  • Roston Chase16 (13b)
  • Sherfane Rutherford1 (4b)
  • Maheesh Theekshana4-0-31-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-38-1
16.6
1
Theekshana to Chase, 1 run, good length on off, 102kph, punched down to long-off for one

Over the wicket

16.5
1
Theekshana to Rutherford, 1 run, good length on off, 101kph, opens the face and looks to run this fine. Backward point dives to his right and gets a hand but can't stop the single
16.4
0
Theekshana to Rutherford, no run, good length, slides on the pads but tapped straight to square leg
16.3
0
Theekshana to Rutherford, no run, fires in a yorker, 96kph, dug out towards backward point

around the wicket

16.2
0
Theekshana to Rutherford, no run, good length on off, check drive straight to short extra cover

Sherfane Rutherford is the new batter

16.1
W
Theekshana to Powell, OUT, Well they tried! But finds long-on! Sri Lanka hanging on by their fingertips. This was a short of a length on off, and Powell looks to go back and muscle this down the ground. But it's straight at Wanindu on the long-on boundary

R Powell c Hasaranga b Theekshana 13 (22m 18b 1x4 0x6) SR: 72.22

21 needed from 25 then. West Indies coasting here. Theekshana to continue. Will they look to end it here?

END OF OVER:
16 | 12 Runs | WI: 160/3 (20 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.00, RRR: 5.00)

  • Rovman Powell13 (17b)
  • Roston Chase15 (12b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-38-1
  • Maheesh Theekshana3-0-29-0
15.6
1
Hasaranga to Powell, 1 run, short and pulled down to deep midwicket
15.5
0
Hasaranga to Powell, no run, back foot punch down to long-off

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st107E LewisBA King
2nd7SD HopeBA King
3rd14RL ChaseBA King
4th32RL ChaseR Powell
5th7RL ChaseSE Rutherford
6th13R ShepherdSE Rutherford