Sri Lanka sealed the three-match T20I series 2-0 with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies after restricting the hosts to 119 for 5 and comfortably chasing down the target.
Sri Lanka 121 for 1 (Perera 52, Dulani 34, Athapaththu 32, Fletcher 1-14) beat West Indies 119 for 5 (Henry 32*, Ranaweera 2-16, Sugandika 2-32) by nine wickets
Hasini Perera anchored the chase with an unbeaten 52 — her second T20I half-century — while left-arm spinners Sugandika Kumari and Inoka Ranaweera claimed two wickets each to set up another authoritative performance.
Spinners Take Control Early
After winning the toss in Grenada, captain Chamari Athapaththu opted to field, and Sri Lanka’s spinners quickly tightened their grip on the contest. Sugandika was introduced in the third over and struck with her third delivery, dismissing Hayley Matthews for 8 with a return catch.
Ranaweera made an immediate impact as well, removing Shawnisha Hector with her second ball. Sugandika then struck again during the powerplay, accounting for Eboni Brathwaite to leave West Indies under pressure.
Although Deandra Dottin counterattacked with three boundaries in her first ten deliveries, helping West Indies finish the powerplay strongly, the momentum soon stalled. The hosts managed just 28 runs from the next 39 balls and added only 34 in the ten overs following the powerplay.
Ranaweera completed a tidy four-over spell by trapping Dottin lbw, and four deliveries later Kavisha Dilhari bowled Stafanie Taylor for 24. At 83 for 5 after 18 overs, West Indies were in danger of being bowled out for under 100.
Chinelle Henry provided late impetus with an unbeaten 32 from 15 balls, lifting 36 runs from the final two overs to take West Indies to 119 for 5 — a total that still appeared below par.
Perera Anchors Comfortable Chase
Sri Lanka began the chase in aggressive fashion, with Athapaththu striking four boundaries inside the first three overs as the visitors scored at nearly ten an over. They reached 48 without loss in the powerplay.
Athapaththu departed soon after for 32 off 22 balls, falling to Afy Fletcher, but the platform had been firmly established. With the required rate below six an over, Perera and Imesha Dulani shifted gears, focusing on steady accumulation.
The pair added an unbeaten 72 for the second wicket from 64 deliveries. Perera reached her fifty off 58 balls before Dulani sealed both the match and the series by hitting a boundary off Matthews. Sri Lanka completed the chase with 14 balls remaining.
The result secured a double success for Sri Lanka on the tour, having earlier claimed the ODI series 2-1.
