West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I, Sri Lanka tour of West Indies 2026 - CommentaryWI vs SL, 1st T20I, Sri Lanka tour of West Indies 2026 - Commentary

West Indies drew first blood in this 3-match T20I series and both teams will be back here on Saturday for Match 2. Can the West Indies gain an unassailable lead or will the visitors bounce back? Join us for what should be another absorbing contest. For now, cheers and bye..

Shai Hope | West Indies Captain - (On the playing surface) It was pretty challenging, to be fair. It was inconsistent with the bounce. Variation was quite key for the bowlers on that particular surface. But it was a bit challenging to bat on. (On his pace bowlers) Their consistency was very commendable, especially the way they utilised the conditions here in Sabina. You expect to get a bit of movement with the seamers, but I felt the pace off was actually utilised pretty well as well. So the execution, I thought, was really good and I think the guys executed today. (On being 1-0 up) It's a great confidence booster when you start a series well like this. It gives guys a lot of confidence, especially in the dressing room and knowing that we can execute under pressure. We wanted to win the game a lot more comfortably in the end, but a win is a win. (On batting against spin) The same, need to be a bit more confident against spin. Just trust, trust your ability, trust your practice, trust your research and just back your execution after that.

Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka Captain - I think when we batted in the powerplay a little bit earlier, they took 2-3 wickets early, I think that's where we struggled a little bit in the middle period. But Dasun (Shanaka) and Kamindu (Mendis) did pretty well, I'm happy for that. (On the bowling) I think during the powerplay a little bit, we struggled in the first six overs. After that, Dushmantha, Eshan and every other bowler bowled really well. And after the powerplay, the guys bowled really, really well.

Jason Holder | Player of the Match - (Bowling with the new ball and at the death) For me, it's just trying to be consistent. I got a fair look at the surface by looking at the two opening bowlers. So I knew what lengths I had to come in and bowl. For me, it's just trying to be as consistent as possible. And let them hit me off a really good length. I though it was a little two-paced as well. So, I just wanted to be a little bit fuller rather than be too short. (Short side vs long side, how much does that come into your plan?) Well, I think it depends on the situation in the game. After getting 2 wickets in 2 balls in my first over, it really set them back a little bit. When Shamar came on and got a wicket in his first over as well, that put us in the game where we wanted to be. And for me, it's just more or less trying to understand the situation in the game. I didn't necessarily have to go big side, short side today. It's more or less trying to keep the stumps in play as long as possible and let them hit me off a good length. (Secret for success in T20s of late) Look, I just try to plan a little bit better than I probably have been in the past. And for me, it's just more or less trying to understand the conditions, understand the opposition, and being a little bit a step ahead of the opposition basically. So for me, I just try to keep it as simple as we possibly can, execute my plans. I did look at a little bit of numbers as well to understand where I've been going wrong and just try to correct those mistakes.

23:03 Local Time, 04:03 GMT, 09:33 IST: Although it might have ended only in the 20th over, but this match was won in the last 5 overs of the Sri Lankan innings and then during the batting powerplay. Just 25 runs were conceded in the last 5 overs, and they then plundered 66 in the first 6 overs. An easy win was on the cards for the hosts, but Sri Lanka never gave up. When Hetmyer was dismissed, the hosts needed 53 more runs off 65 balls, but the visitors squeezed the run-rate. Hope didn't find the boundaries and Chase got stuck against spin. The former, however, stayed till the end, found the occasional boundaries late and Powell's winning hit was met by a boisterous local crowd. They lost the ODI series here after the last two matches were washed out, but they've started the T20I series well. For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga and Theekshana were economical, but the team needed more wickets from them. Having dragged this match to the final over, they'll take the positives and look to return better in the 2nd game. Stay tuned for the presentations..

How did West Indies bring this chase to the last over? They need 6 runs to win off 6 balls, still their game to lose

Madushanka, from round the wicket