King, Lewis lead Windies to five-wicket win over Lankans
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP):
Openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis scored half-centuries and shared a 107-run stand in 55 balls yesterday to guide West Indies to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first of their three Twenty20 matches.
Sri Lanka scored 179-7 in their 20 overs after West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and chose to field at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
In reply, West Indies reached 180-5 with five deliveries remaining to take an early lead in the series.
King smashed a six and eleven fours in his innings of 63 runs off 33 deliveries, while Lewis hit four sixes and five fours for his 28-ball 50.
The pair at times maintained a run rate of more than 13 runs per over to lay a solid platform.
After Lewis was out in the 10th over -- caught by Chamindu Wickramasinghe off fast-bowler Matheesha Pathirana -- the hosts took two more wickets for 21 runs to threaten a comeback. But West Indies' middle order maintained the momentum to take their team over the line.
Pathirana took two wickets for Sri Lanka.
Earlier, captain Charith Asalanka (59) and Kamindu Mendis (51) led Sri Lanka's batting in posting a competitive total.
Asalanka faced 35 deliveries and hit nine fours, and Mendis hit two sixes and five fours in his 40-ball knock.
Fast-bowler Romario Shepherd took 2-39 for the West Indies.
The second match will be played at the same venue tomorrow.
SCORES: Sri Lanka 179-7 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 59, Kamindu Mendis 51, Kusal Mendis 19, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 17, Pathum Nissanka 11; Romario Shepherd 2-39).
West Indies 180-5 in 19.1 overs (Brandon King 63, Evin Lewis 50, Roston Chase 19, Sherfane Rutherford 14 not out, Rovman Powell 13; Matheesha Pathirana 2-27).