Keeping the stumps in play and making scoring difficult. That was the key to Jason Holder’s match-winning spell against Sri Lanka in the opening T20 International at Sabina Park, on Thursday night. And the West Indies all-rounder wants more of the same as the hosts look to seal the series in the second match at the same venue today, bowling off from 8.30 p.m. Player-of-the-Match Holder, along with fellow pacer Shamar Joseph, broke the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting with three wickets apiece as the
visitors were restricted to 147 for nine after electing to bat first. Shai Hope then produced a captain’s knock, scoring an unbeaten 65 to guide West Indies to 149 for three with four balls remaining and a thrilling seven-wicket victory. The result handed the Windies a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final two matches scheduled for today and tomorrow. Speaking after the match, Holder said the strategy was simple. “Just to come in and make it difficult for them to score off
a good length. “I felt keeping the stumps in play was really important. These guys like to pick up a lot of shots into the leg side, so for me it was trying to be a little bit fuller at the top of the stumps and make sure I kept the stumps in play as much as possible.” That formula worked perfectly as Holder, Joseph and off-spinner Roston Chase strangled Sri Lanka after a bright start inside the powerplay. Skipper Kusal Mendis survived an early
scare when Sherfane Rutherford failed to hold a difficult diving chance off Matthew Forde with only ten runs on the board. Mendis capitalised, smashing Forde for two sixes in a 17-run fourth over that carried Sri Lanka to 39 without loss. But Holder quickly turned the match. Pathum Nissanka edged his first delivery for four before being bowled off his pad for 18 on the very next ball. Holder then trapped Lasith Croospulle lbw first ball after a review to leave Sri Lanka reeling at
43 for two in the fifth over. Pavan Rathnayake denied Holder a second T20I hat-trick but lasted only briefly before Shimron Hetmyer produced a stunning boundary catch off Joseph. When Joseph dismissed Mendis for 36 off 23 balls, Sri Lanka had slumped to 65 for four in the eighth over. Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka revived the innings with a 59-run stand, but Chase removed Shanaka for 22 and the visitors never fully recovered. Kamindu fought hard for 51 off 39 balls, striking four fours
and two sixes, but once he was run out, Holder and Joseph ensured there would be no late assault. Holder ended with three for 18, Joseph three for 29, and Chase one for 19 from four economical overs. The performance also saw Holder join Akeal Hosein as only the second West Indies bowler to claim more than 50 T20I wickets on Caribbean soil. Holder, however, brushed aside the milestone. “I never worry about the stats. It’s obviously a pleasing feeling, I guess, but for me
it’s just about doing well in any conditions, whether it be at home or away, and ensuring that we can win more cricket games.” Despite the comfortable position West Indies held for much of the chase, Holder admitted he always expected Sri Lanka to remain competitive. “I was never worried. At the halfway stage I felt it would be a little bit more of a challenge because it was a tough wicket to start on. I probably didn’t expect the game to go as deep
as it did, but I expected the Sri Lankans to be in the game at all stages.” West Indies were given a flying start by Hope and Brandon King, who survived two early reprieves before the pair blasted 66 runs from the powerplay. King eventually fell for 37 off 22 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer added a lively 17 from nine deliveries before departing at 95 for two. Hope anchored the chase throughout, bringing up his 13th T20I half-century off 38 balls. Chase struggled for 16
from 26 balls before being dismissed with 20 runs still required. Dushmantha Chameera’s excellent penultimate over left six needed from the final over, but Rovman Powell settled any nerves by launching Dilshan Madushanka’s second delivery high into the leg-side stands to spark wild celebrations among the large Sabina Park crowd.
Jason Holder, Shamar Joseph, West Indies, Sri Lanka, T20 International, Sabina Park, Kusal Mendis, Shai Hope, 147 for nine, 149 for three, seven-wicket victory