Shanaka, Mishara Fifties Level Series for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 37 runs at Sabina Park, Kingston. Series now 1-1 with the decider set for Sunday.

Sri Lanka had been struggling at 88 for 4 in the 13th over when Shanaka joined Mishara at the crease. The pair then blasted 103 off 42 balls together to propel Sri Lanka to a commanding score of 194 for 6, hitting seven sixes and nine fours between them

Although Sri Lanka struck twice with the new ball, West Indies had still looked confident in pursuit at 89 for 2, until Sri Lanka's spinners went to work. A run out would spark a collapse that cost West Indies six wickets for 32 runs. They struggled to recover from 122 for 8 after 15 overs. Dushmantha Chameera, who had struck early in the innings and was effective in the other phases as well, closed out the match in the 19th over, taking three wickets for 9 runs. West Indies were 157 all out, despite Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer having put on 81 off 47 for the third wicket.

Batting: After collapsing to 43/3, Kamil Mishara 61 off 40* and Dasun Shanaka 58 off 24 put on 101 for the 4th wicket. SL posted 194/6.Bowling: West Indies slumped to 9/2. Despite 82 between Shimron Hetmyer 36 and Rovman Powell 43, Sri Lanka pulled it back.Finish: Wanindu Hasaranga 3/38 and Dushmantha Chameera 3/9 tore through the lower order. WI all out for 157 in the 19th over.

Having come to the crease in the fifth over, Mishara remained unbeaten until the close. He took a while to get going as wickets fell around him. He only found his first boundary off the 16th ball he faced. But having sauntered to 22 off 23 after 15 overs, he took cues from Shanaka and unleashed some big hitting of his own at the death. He took a particular liking to the bowling of Matthew Forde, whom he walloped twice down the ground in the 17th over. He finished with 61 not out off 40.

Mishara’s knock was his 4th T20I fifty; Shanaka’s 24-ball 58 included 5 fours, 4 sixes. Shanaka also bowled the final over in the previous game, taking 2 wickets. Sri Lanka had already won the rain-hit ODI series 1-0.

Bottom line: Mishara’s anchor and Shanaka’s blitz rebuilt Sri Lanka’s innings, and Hasaranga + Chameera sealed a 37-run win to level the 3-match T20I series against West Indies.