West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 25 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series.
Opener Lendl Simmons slammed unbeaten 67 off 51 deliveries while quick-fire knocks from all-rounder Andre Russell and captain Kieron Pollard took Windies to 196/4 in 20 overs.
In reply, Kusal Perera hit his 12th T20I fifty but Oshane Thomas scalped a five-wicket haul in the powerplay overs to guide the visitors to victory.
Earlier, Pollard became the first player in the history of T20 cricket to feature in 500 matches. Second on the list is Pollard’s compatriot Dwayne Bravo, who has taken part in 453 matches so far in his trophy-laden career. Chris Gayle takes the third spot in the illustrious list as he has featured in 404 T20 matches.
@KieronPollard55 celebrates his 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th T20 with a one of a kind #MenInMaroon Jersey!🙌🏾Congrats Skipper! 👏🏽#ItsOurGame pic.twitter.com/SUWXXN8eZa
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2020
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the match:
Congrats on the 500 and welcome to the 10K Club, @KieronPollard55 💪🏿👍🏿🤫
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) March 4, 2020
Pretty good effort by the minnows to lose by just 25 runs to the World Champions. Work ahead for Pollard & co. #SLvWI
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 4, 2020
Windies win by 25 runs! 🎉
Oshane Thomas the star with 5/28 🌟 #SLvWI pic.twitter.com/1EU9svKodr
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2020
Two weeks ago, Oshane Thomas was recovering from an accident that sent his car cartwheeling. Today, he becomes the second man ever to take a five-wicket haul inside a T20I powerplay. #SLvWI
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) March 4, 2020
10,000 T20 runs. 500 T20 matches. Legend👌💙#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #SLvWI @KieronPollard55 pic.twitter.com/naQtsIiF6j
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 4, 2020
10000 T20 runs in his 500th match for @KieronPollard55 . He has also taken 279 wickets and is a really good captain.. A T20 legend.. #SLvWI
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) March 4, 2020
West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 25 runs and take 1-0 lead in the 2-match series!#SLvWI pic.twitter.com/PrQpUUypvj
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 4, 2020
What a way to start the series 👏🏽.. A perfect outing for the #MenInMaroon#SLvWI #ItsOurGame pic.twitter.com/6jXFvpr7EZ
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2020
#SLvWI How good was our Man of the Match Oshane Thomas today?🔥 #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/9kMoVdcmf4
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2020