Fletcher 84* leads West Indies to big win
Only two runs had come in the fifth over, bowled by Badree, and Chandimal went for a suicidal run, was sent back by Lahiru Thirimanne, and fell well short of his ground to be run out. Thirimanne and Chamara Kapugedara sent Russell for two boundaries in the next over, but Badree had Thirimanne driving him straight to Fletcher’s hands at point in his next over, and in his last, had Kapugedara stumped going for a hoick. He finally sent Siriwardene back, caught by Gayle at slip.
In cahoots with Benn, who was as effective with none for 13 from his quota of overs, Badree left Sri Lanka reeling at 47 for 5 with his 3 for 12, underscoring his reputation of being one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, and it was a big repair job Mathews and Thisara Perera were left with. They did their bit, adding 44 runs in seven-and-a-half overs – not bad considering the circumstances – before a spot of Bravo magic did Mathews in. Mathews had taken a couple of steps out, and Bravo dished out a slower beamer, which dipped as it reached Mathews. The batter seemed to lose it, ducked with his bat out, and guided it to Ramdin for the simplest catch he is ever likely to get.
It was only Perera’s big, muscular fightback that lifted Sri Lanka out of the abyss, as he swung five fours and a six in his 29-ball 40 before Bravo sent him back caught at long-on by Russell. By that time, in fact soon after Badree had signed off, Bravo’s Champion dance had taken off – on the night, his 2 for 20 was gold considering Perera’s intent, much of which he took out on poor Brathwaite. But a target of 123 was never going to be nearly enough.