Sri Lanka's spinners have bowled the tourists to a 43-run win over the West Indies in the second Twenty20 cricket international to level the three-match series 1-1.
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Defending a moderate total of 6-160, Wanindudu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya and Danushka Gunathilaka took eight wickets, bowling out the West Indies for 117 in 18.4 overs.
Sri Lanka stacked their lineup with four spinners for the must-win match at Coolidge and the tactic paid off on a slow pitch which made big hitting difficult.
The West Indies were unable to maintain any scoring momentum as wickets tumbled regularly.
Dananjaya, who made history twice in the first match of a series by taking a hat-trick and then conceding six sixes in one over, set the tone of the West Indies innings when he bowled his four overs in succession in the power play, taking 1-13.
Left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan, who missed the first match of the series, took 3-14 from 3.4 overs, including the vital wicket of West Indies captain Kieron Pollard for 13.
Hasaranga was named man of the match for his 3-17 from four overs and his unbeaten 19 in Sri Lanka's innings. He bamboozled the West Indies batsman with the variety of his wrist spin, his line and flight, dismissing Lendl Simmons (21), Chris Gayle (16) and Fabian Allen (12). His googly, difficult to pick, accounted for Simmons and Allen, who fell lbw.
Sri Lanka earlier made 160 after captain Angelo Mathews won the toss.
The deciding match of the T20 series is on Sunday. The teams will also play three one-day games followed by two Tests.
Australian Associated Press
