The series opener at Sabina Park saw Sri Lanka elect to bat first after winning the toss. Kamil Mishara (32 off 25) and Pathum Nissanka (27 off 22) provided a steady start, but West Indies captain Shai Hope introduced Jason Holder into the attack, and the veteran seamer struck twice in his first over, removing both openers. Wanindu Hasaranga (22 off 15) tried to accelerate, but Akeal Hosein’s economical spell (1/24) kept the scoring in check. Sri Lanka finished at 149/6 in their 20 overs.

Chasing 150, West Indies openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles came out with intent. King was in sublime touch, driving and pulling with authority. He reached his 8th T20I fifty off just 28 balls. Even after Charles fell for 18, King continued the assault, adding 68 off 42 balls before being dismissed. Sherfane Rutherford (28 off 15) and Roston Chase (17* off 9) finished the chase with 8 wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. King’s innings, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes, earned him the Player of the Match award.

Sri Lanka bounced back emphatically in the second T20I at the same venue. Batting first, West Indies posted 164/7, thanks to a 31-ball 44 from Sherfane Rutherford and a late cameo from Romario Shepherd (21 off 12). Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (3/28) and Maheesh Theekshana (2/31), kept the hosts in check.

In reply, Kamil Mishara produced a masterclass. The young opener smashed 53 off 30 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes), his second T20I fifty. He added 47 runs with Pathum Nissanka (24) and then combined with Charith Asalanka (32 off 22) to take Sri Lanka to victory with 4 wickets in hand and 6 balls to spare. Mishara’s innings was a blend of power and elegance, and he was deservedly named Player of the Match. The series was level at 1-1 heading into the decider.

The series decider was a rollercoaster. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Kamil Mishara (32 off 22) and Pathum Nissanka (26 off 17) started briskly, but then came Shamar Joseph. The young fast bowler, who had been impressive in the earlier matches, produced the spell of his life. He removed Mishara, then cleaned up Dasun Shanaka (18) and Wanindu Hasaranga (12) in the same over. He finished with sensational figures of 5 for 33 in his 4 overs – his maiden T20I five-wicket haul and the best figures by a West Indies bowler since 2024. Sri Lanka were restricted to 169/9.

Chasing 170, West Indies lost Ackeem Auguste early. But Brandon King (39 off 28) and Shai Hope (34 off 27) added 58 runs for the second wicket. After both fell in quick succession, the pressure was back on the hosts. Then Sherfane Rutherford (47 off 31) and Roston Chase (22* off 14) produced a match-winning partnership. Rutherford’s aggressive strokeplay and Chase’s calm finishing guided West Indies to victory with 5 wickets in hand and 4 balls to spare. The home crowd erupted as Chase hit the winning boundary.

Despite ending on the losing side, Kamil Mishara was the standout performer of the series. The 24-year-old left-hander aggregated 123 runs in three innings at an average of 41.00 and a strike rate of 164.00, including two half-centuries. His consistency at the top of the order gave Sri Lanka a solid platform in every match. In the second T20I, his 53 off 30 balls helped Sri Lanka level the series. Even in the decider, his 32 off 22 kept the visitors in the contest. Mishara’s emergence as a reliable T20 opener will be a massive boost for Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup preparations.