West Indies VS Srilanka T20 Series 2021 
2nd Match Played at Coolidge on 6 March 2021
Brief Scorecard: Sri Lanka 160/6 in 20 Overs (Dhanuska Gunathilaka 56, Pathum Nishanka 37, Ashen Bandara 21, PWH de Silva 19*, Dwayne Bravo 2/21, Obed McCoy 1/34, Jason Holder 1/36)
West Indies: 117 All Out In 18.4 Overs (Obed McCoy 23, Lendl Simmons 21, Chris Gayle 16, Lakshan Sandakan 3/10, PWH de Silva 3/17, Dusmantha Sameera 2/26, Akila Dhananjaya 1/13) 
Sri Lanka Won by 43 Runs 
Player Of The Match: PWH de Silva

Spin dominated Sri Lanka proved again how quality spinners are now movers and shakers of even the briefest version of World Cricket. Lakshan Sandakan (3/10), Wanindu Hasaranga (3/17) and Akila Dhananjaya (1/13) teasing and tormenting star-studded West Indies wrapped up their innings for 117. West Indies was chasing Sri Lanka score of 160/6 in the 2nd of the three matches T20 series played at Coolidge yesterday. The series is now even at 1-1. With a little bit of luck Sri Lanka could have even won the first match had they scored another 20 while batting. This was despite of Pollard striking Akila for 6 sixes in one over. 

Sri Lanka winning the toss and batting first were off to a great start.  Striking the ball sweetly openers Gunathilaka (56) and Nishanka (37) in 10.2 overs put on 95 runs in smooth 1st Wicket partnerhip. Nishanka was unfortunately run out. When front line bowlers failed to make much impression Pollard brought in Bravo into the attack. He immediately struck gold removing well set Gunathilaka. Losing both the opners in quick succession Sri Lankan innings lost the momentum. However, Bandara (21) and PWH de Silva (19*) playing smartly could lead Sri Lanka post a challenging score of 160/6. Off the West Indies bowlers only Bravo could impress taking 2/25. Sri Lankan batsmen did not have much difficulty in handling pace dominated West Indies attack.

Matthews sensing the weakness of West Indies batsmen against quality spin brought his spinners Akila and de Silva early. Akila made the first break through clean bowling as early as the 3rd over. Then de Silva struck double blows removing Lewis (21) and Gayle (16).  Buoyed by this success Mathhews took the risk of bowling out his tramp cards. However, wickets kept tumbling as accurate and penetrative Lankan spinners letting off magic wand kept clueless West Indians guessing. By the 17th Over West Indies got reduced to 8/ 93. When Akila and de Silva finished another quality spinner Lakshan Sandakan took over He mopped up the tail taking 3/ 10. Rattled West Indies got bundled out for 117. Sri Lanka winning the match by huge 43 runs squared the series 1-1. It was once again proved quality diverse spin attack is essential these days in any format of cricket. 

West Indies ploy of bringing back their top players of T20 in a bid to prepare the team for T20 World so far did not work as expected. Sri Lanka has smartly exploited the genuine weakness of West Indies batsmen against quality spin. 

BDST: 1148 HRS, MAR 07, 2021
SMS