The West Indies went 1-0 up in the first T20 International of a three‑match series against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Thursday night. The fixture, played in front of a small but boisterous crowd, ended in a nervy finish for the Men in Maroon.
The Sri Lankan openers got off to a quick start. After being dropped on 7, Pathum Nissanka went on to score 43 in partnership with Kusal Mendis for the first wicket before Jason Holder removed him. A cascade of wickets followed, with the West Indies controlling the scoring for large parts of the innings. A fighting 51 from Kamindu Mendis prevented the back end of the Lankan batting order from collapsing completely, but the team could only manage 147-9 from their 20 overs.
The West Indies were brilliant with the ball. Pace bowlers Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder each bagged three wickets, with Holder finishing on 3/18 and Joseph claiming 3-29. Holder also brought up his 50th T20 International wicket during this effort.
The Men in Maroon got off to a flyer with the bat. Captain Shai Hope (65 not out) and Brandon King (37) put on 63 for the first wicket, laying the foundation for the chase. Shimron Hetmyer added a quickfire cameo of 17 off 9 deliveries, but runs slowed thereafter, highlighted by Roston Chase’s 26‑ball 16. The West Indies struggled to find boundaries and rotate the strike, an issue Daren Sammy’s men have struggled to eliminate in the white‑ball format.
The game dragged into the final over, with the Men in Maroon still requiring six runs. Hope, who carried his bat, was at the non‑striker’s end when hometown hero Rovman Powell smashed a six with five required, sealing a seven‑wicket victory.
The Windies will face the same opposition at the same venue on Saturday, with a chance to close out the series.
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