West Indies defeat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in 3rd T20I to clinch the T20I series 2-1 at home.
West Indies all-rounder Fabian Allen said he just backed himself and executed his plans after helping his team to beat Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I to clinch the T20I series 2-1 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday (March 8).
Allen has delivered the match-winning all-round performance in a low-scoring affair, as he first bowled an economical spell, conceding just 13 runs in his 4 overs while taking a wicket, and then played a blasting knock of 21* off just 6 balls, studded with 3 sixes, to help West Indies chase down the target of 132 to beat Sri Lanka by three wickets on Monday.
Having already won the first T20I, the hosts secured the home series with Monday’s win and now both teams would lock horns in the three-match ODI series beginning Wednesday (March 10).
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Allen said after the match, “I prepare for everything, including bowling in the Powerplay. I just backed myself and executed. The pitch is very slow, so I just needed to execute my plans.”
He concluded, “When I look in the dressing room, we have a lot of batting power. I told Jason Holder that I'm not comfortable batting against (Wanindu) Hasaranga, so I told him to bat him out and I'll be finishing. I just backed myself in the end. It was a good performance overall.”
Chasing a below-par target, the West Indies got a brilliant start with Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis put on 37 runs inside the first five overs, but Wanindu Hasaranga got a breakthrough and he brought Sri Lanka back into the game by dismissing Lewis (21), Simmons (26), Chris Gayle (13) and Kieron Pollard (0) to reduce the hosts to 75/4 in the 12th over on Monday.
However, Nicholas Pooran (23) later managed to stay at the crease, and at the end Jason Holder (14*) and Allen (21*) took the hosts over the line with six balls to spare against Sri Lanka.
(With ANI Inputs)