SL VS WI - 2nd T20I, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 2024

So, a thumping victory for Sri Lanka tonight to level the series. The hosts are always a force to reckon with when there’s turn and grip available on the surface and their spinners once again proved that tonight. The West Indies’ batters difficulties against quality spin bowling on a slightly sluggish pitch surfaced once again. There’s all to play for as the third and final game of the series is coming up day after tomorrow from the same venue. Do join us to catch all the action. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Charith Asalanka | Sri Lanka captain: It is an important win for us. It is a journey and hopefully this win will be a start. It was a good toss to win. We were thinking 160-170 would be a par score and the openers set the platform. He (Wellalage) has experience playing 50-over cricket and didn't look like a debutant. Hopefully we win the series.

Rovman Powell | West Indies captain: At the halfway stage we believed we can get 160. But it was not a T20 wicket and they (SL) used the conditions nicely tonight. It was just the case of us not reaching for the ball like we did. We have 24 hours to look at what we can do better. T20 cricket is all about match-ups and that's why I got my left-arm spinner against their right-hand batters, same thing they did with their left-arm spinner. West Indies love a final and that game should be very good.

Pathum Nissanka has been awarded the Player of the Match for his well-composed fifty. He spoke in Sinhalese so we couldn't cover his interview

22:05 Local Time, 16:35 GMT, 22:05 IST: When Theekshana with his quick darts starts turning the ball square then it is trouble for any team. West Indies were never in the chase. They were blown away by Sri Lanka's spinners especially debutant Dunith Wellalage. The left-arm spinner finished with impressive figures of 3/9 in his 4 overs and that spell put West Indies on the back foot early on. There was no recovering from that as Asalanka kept bringing one spinner after another, he too bowled and picked up a couple of wickets. Rovman Powell along with Alzarri Joseph showed a bit of resistance and ensured it is not an embarrassing defeat for the visitors. But it is still a big loss and one that exposed West Indies' batting when the ball is turning. Presentations coming up..

Theekshana to Alzarri Joseph, out Bowled!! That's the final nail in the coffin! That's as comprehensive a victory as it can get for Sri Lanka! It's the carrom ball from Theekshana. It's quick through the air, pitches on a length on middle and straightens down the line, Alzarri Joseph is late on the tuck and misses. The ball crashes into the middle-stump. SL have bounced back in style to level the series. Alzarri Joseph b Theekshana 16(10) [4s-1 6s-1]

Theekshana to Alzarri Joseph, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Maheesh Theekshana [3.0-0-7-1] is back into the attack

Pathirana to Alzarri Joseph, 1 run, slower length ball cutting in towards leg-stump, Alzarri Joseph works it round the corner to retain strike

Pathirana to Shamar Joseph, 1 run, 143kph full ball swinging towards the pads, Shamar Joseph whips it through backward square leg. Wellalage moves to his left and dives to stop certain runs for his side. Sanath Jayasuriya, SL's head coach, claps from the dug out

Pathirana to Shamar Joseph, no run, 148kph yorker length ball outside off, Shamar Joseph looks to carve it square of the wicket but is beaten for pace

Pathirana to Shamar Joseph, no run, a very full ball wide outside off, Shamar Joseph throws his bat at it but misses

Pathirana to Shamar Joseph, FOUR, nicely played! Shamar Joseph stays put and whips it through backward square leg to find the fence. Pathirana had switched to round the wicket and Shamar Joseph made use of the pace and angle

Shamar Joseph, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Pathirana to Powell, out Caught by Kusal Mendis!! Good take by the keeper! The West Indies skipper departs! A pacy short delivery angling towards the leg-stump, Powell is late on the pull shot and ends up gloving it behind. The deflection is a healthy one. Kusal Mendis moves to his left and dives to take a good catch. Sri Lanka are just a wicket away now. Powell c Kusal Mendis b Pathirana 20(17) [4s-1 6s-1]

Pathirana to Powell, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Hasaranga to Alzarri Joseph, SIX, smashed! Brilliant hit from Alzarri Joseph! The wrong' un but it's full outside off, in the slot. Alzarri Joseph clears his front leg and clubs it over cow corner for a 91m maximum. Picked the bones outta that one

Hasaranga to Alzarri Joseph, FOUR, a full ball on off, Alzarri Joseph clears his front leg and drives it nicely past extra cover. Rajapaksa moves to his left from long-off and puts in a lazy dive to let the ball through

Hasaranga to Powell, 1 run, on a length outside off, Powell flat-bats it to long-on

Hasaranga to Powell, FOUR, shot! Tossed up full ball outside off, Powell lines it up and smashes it towards long-on. The fielder has no chance to cut it off. That was struck hard