KINGSTON: West Indies beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening T20 International of a three-match series here at the Sabina Park on Thursday.

Rovman Powell hit a six in the final over to steer West Indies to victory.

Despite amassing 66-0 in powerplay West Indies slowed in the chase of 148-run target.

Captain and opener Shai Hope led the hosts with an unbeaten 65 off 54 balls with five fours and a brace of sixes. Fellow opener Brandon King made 37.

Requiring 20 runs off 20 balls, it was reduced to needing a run a ball from nine deliveries before Powell (10 not out) sealed the victory for the home side with four balls remaining.

Earlier after choosing to bat first, Kamindu Mendis top-scored with 51 while captain and opener Kusal Mendis contributed 36.

Pacers Jason Holder (3-18) and Shamar Joseph (3-29) took most of the Sri Lankan wickets.

Sri Lanka won the preceding three-match ODI series 1-0 after the final two matches were washed out.

“It was a really good bowling performance and credit to our bowlers,” man-of-the-match Holder said. “We always think about getting wickets in the dressing room. I was thinking to attack.”

The final two matches of the T20 series are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the same venue.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

P. Nissanka b Holder18

K. Mendis c Chase b Joseph36

L. Croospulle lbw b Holder0

P. Rathnayake c Hetmyer b Joseph4

K.D. Mendis run out51

D. Shanaka c Forde b Chase22

W. Hasarangac Hope b Joseph3

M. Theekshana c Powell b Holder1

D. Chameera run out1

E. Malinga not out3

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-4)8

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs)147

DID NOT BAT: D. Madushanka

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-43 (Nissanka), 2-43 (Croospulle), 3-49 (Rathnayake), 4-65 (K. Mendis), 5-124 (Shanaka), 6-138 (Hasaranga), 7-139 (Theekshana), 8-144 (K.D. Mendis), 9-147 (Chameera)

BOWLING: Hosein 3-0-28-0, Forde 3-0-32-0 (1w), Holder 4-0-18-3, Joseph 4-0-29-3 (3w), Shepherd 2-0-17-0, Chase 4-0-19-1

WEST INDIES:

B. King b Hasaranga37

S. Hope not out65

S. Hetmyer c R’nayake b Hasaranga17

R. Chase b Malinga16

R. Powell not out10

EXTRAS (NB-1, W-3)4

TOTAL (for three wkts, 19.2 overs)149

DID NOT BAT: S. Rutherford, R. Shepherd, J. Holder, M. Forde, A. Hosein, S. Joseph

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-67 (King), 2-95 (Hetmyer), 3-128 (Chase)

BOWLING: Madushanka 3.2-0-39-0 (2w), Chameera 4-0-32-0 (1nb), Theekshana 4-0-20-0, Malinga 4-0-26-1 (1w), Hasaranga 4-0-32-2

RESULT: West Indies won by seven wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jason Holder

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026