The second T20 will bowl off from 18:00h today, March 5 at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. On Wednesday (March 3), Sri Lanka learnt a harsh lesson. Not many teams go down in a game when they have a hat-trick hero in their side. But then again, not many hat-trick heroes end up with a dubious distinction of getting smashed for six sixes in an over in the same game as well. But more than the result, Sri Lanka’s focus will be on the manner at which the hosts were scoring their runs that day.
By the time Dananjaya completed his hat-trick in the fourth over, West Indies had already put up 52 runs on the board. A blistering start such as that one usually spells trouble for the opposition, especially when they are defending just 131. The West Indies openers clubbed five sixes off the first 14 balls in the run chase. Kieron Pollard followed it up with six more and Jason Holder added two to finish off the proceedings. In total, the hosts managed to clear the ropes 13 times in just 13.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead and the likes of Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran didn’t even contribute to it.
Five years ago, West Indies thrived on the same formula to capture their second T20 World Cup and unless Sri Lanka find a way to reduce the boundary balls, this series would slip away pretty quickly. For starters, they also need runs on the board. None of their batsmen in the top 7 even managed to have a strike rate close to 120. There were only three sixes hit in the entire innings and that has to change.
Is Dinesh Chandimal ideally suited to this format? If yes, is No. 4 the ideal slot for the experienced right-hander or will the visitors be better served having him bat in the top 3? Sri Lanka also need runs from their big guns in the middle order – Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera.
The think tank will have to be smart in terms of how they manage their bowlers. Over the years, Pollard has regularly showcased his hitting-prowess against spin bowling. Perhaps, reserving the pacers for the West Indies skipper and going with spin in the powerplay might serve Sri Lanka better. But then again, West Indies had Dwayne Bravo slotted in to come in at 8 on Wednesday, so no matter where you hide your bowlers, this lot will keep coming at you which puts onus on the Lankan batsmen to deliver.
What to expect: With the weather set to be clear, it will be interesting to see how this wicket plays out. The pitch for the first game wasn’t the easiest for stroke-making but it didn’t make a difference to the home side. Sri Lanka will hope for a better surface.
Team News
West Indies: With the team putting up a near-clinical show, West Indies will have no reason to change anything.
Probable XI: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Kevin Sinclair, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards
Sri Lanka: Change in personnel or change in tactics? Sri Lanka would prefer the latter.
Probable XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (c), Ashen Bandara, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
What they said
“Getting the opportunity to do that was fantastic. And thank god for small mercies, giving me the strength to do that. So I continued to carry on to do what was required for the team at that point in time.” – Kieron Pollard on smashing six sixes in an over. (cricbuzz)
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