A 107-run opening partnership between Player of the Match Brandon King and Evin Lewis propelled the West Indies to a comfortable five-wicket win over hosts Sri Lanka in the opening match of their three-game T20 international series. King, who was in maroon colours for the first time since his injury during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, blitzed his way to 63 off 33 balls as the Men in Maroon eased to victory at 180 for 5 with five balls to spare, in response to 179 for 7 made by the home team.
29-year-old King slammed 11 fours and a six in his knock that saw the visitors racing to 74 without loss in the powerplay. The right-hander received support from Evin Lewis who crunched five fours and four sixes in his even 50 from 28 balls. Lewis who was making a return to the international scene for the first time since 2022 took 15 runs from one over, bowled by Chamindu Wickramsinghe in the powerplay. He also deposited two sixes in one over from Wanindu Hasaranga before falling to Matheesha Pathirana for 50 off 28 balls inside the 10th over.
King continued on his merry way and even though Shai Hope fell for 7, he steered the West Indies team to within sight of the target before being dismissed by Kamindu Mendis in the 12th over, at 128 for 3. Captain Rovman Powell and his deputy, Roston Chase added 32 for the fourth wicket before the pair fell in the space of ten deliveries at 167 for 5 in the 18th over. Sherfane Rutherford with 14 not out then carried the regional team over the line at 180 for 5.
West Indies’ Dominance
The West Indies’ victory was a testament to their powerful batting lineup, which was able to chase down a challenging target with ease. The opening partnership between King and Lewis was particularly impressive, as they set the tone for the rest of the innings.
King, who was returning from injury, looked in excellent form, smashing boundaries with ease. Lewis, meanwhile, showed that he is still a dangerous batsman, despite his absence from the international scene. The pair took the pressure off the middle order, allowing them to play with more freedom.
Sri Lanka’s Struggle
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, struggled to contain the West Indies’ batting attack. They were able to pick up wickets, but they were unable to put any pressure on the visitors. Their bowling attack was simply not good enough to stop the West Indies’ momentum. The home team also struggled in the field, dropping a few catches that could have turned the tide of the match.
A Look Ahead
The West Indies will be looking to build on their victory in the second match of the series. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be hoping to bounce back and avoid a series loss. The second match of the series takes place on Tuesday at the same venue starting at 7 pm local time/9:30 am Eastern Caribbean time/8:30 am Jamaica time. The remaining two T20s of the series, also at Dambulla, will be played on October 15 and 17, before the teams head to Pallekele for a three-match ODI series.
The Synergy of King and Lewis
The partnership between King and Lewis was a major factor in the West Indies’ victory. It was the highest partnership for West Indies against Sri Lanka in T20 cricket for any wicket. King spoke about the importance of the partnership which broke the back of the chase saying, “It was just about us understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and just backing each other to go out there and play with freedom, and I think that’s what we did today.”
Additionally, King spoke about the synergy between himself and Lewis, “It’s been a good partnership for us, for a long time now. We understand each other’s game really well. And we know how to push each other to the limits. I think we just have a good understanding, and a good chemistry. We’re just two good players playing together.”
The West Indies will be hoping that this partnership can continue to flourish in the remaining matches of the series. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to find a way to stop the two batsmen in the next match.
