A brilliant unbeaten half-century from Kamil Mishara and a destructive late cameo by Dasun Shanaka guided Sri Lanka to a convincing 37-run victory over West Indies and levelled the three match T20 series.

Sri Lanka recovered strongly after a shaky start to post an imposing 194 for 6. Pathum Nissanka fell early for seven, while captain Kusal Mendis made a quick-fire 31 off 19 balls before becoming one of three wickets claimed by Shamar Joseph. When Pavan Rathnayake was dismissed for one, Sri Lanka were struggling at 43 for 3 inside seven overs.
Mishara then steadied the innings with a mature knock, combining caution with aggression. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 61 from 40 deliveries, striking four fours and three sixes. Kamindu Mendis supported him with 24 before Shanaka launched a spectacular assault in the death overs.

The former captain hammered 58 from only 24 balls, smashing five boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate above 240. His 103-run stand with Mishara completely changed the complexion of the innings and propelled Sri Lanka close to the 200-run mark.

Chasing 195, West Indies suffered an early collapse as Brandon King and skipper Shai Hope were both trapped leg-before wicket inside the first two overs. Shimron Hetmyer (36) and Rovman Powell (43) threatened to keep the visitors in contention with an aggressive partnership, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck at regular intervals.

Dushmantha Chameera delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 9, while Wanindu Hasaranga picked up three wickets despite conceding runs. Dunith Wellalage claimed two wickets and Maheesh Theekshana added one as West Indies were bowled out for 157 in 18.1 overs.

The victory ensured Sri Lanka squared the series and set up an exciting decider on Monday.

Sri Lanka will begin its campaign at the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Asia/Oceania Group II tournament when the prestigious regional team event serves off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 15.

The competition, which runs for six days at the National Tennis Centre, will bring together ten nations from across the Asia-Oceania region. Joining Sri Lanka in the battle for honours are Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, hosts Malaysia, Pacific Oceania, the Philippines, Singapore and Uzbekistan.

Teams have been drawn into two groups of five and will contest round-robin matches from June 15 to 19. The tournament will conclude with decisive play-off encounters on June 20 to determine promotion and relegation.

With two places available in the 2027 Asia/Oceania Group I competition, the stakes are high for all participating teams. Nations finishing at the bottom of the standings will face relegation to Group III.

Sri Lanka has entrusted a youthful squad with the responsibility of carrying the national flag at the tournament. The team includes Dinara De Silva (St. Bridget’s Convent), Yuhansa Peiris (Bishop’s College), Akeesha Silva (Newstead Girls’ College, Negombo), Annaya Norbet (Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya) and Sandithi Usgoda Arachchi (Musaeus College).

Guiding the side will be experienced coach Dineshkanthan Thangarajah, who has been appointed captain for the tournament. His role will be crucial as the young Sri Lankan players seek to make an impact against some of the region’s strongest teams.

The 111 Vision Care Colombo Championship 2026, one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious and long-standing ‘A’ Grade tennis tournaments, will get underway on 19 June at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) Playing Section courts in Colombo.

Held on six iconic clay courts, this year’s championship is expected to attract a record number of entries from across the country. The tournament will also offer its largest-ever prize pool of Rs. 3 million, underlining its growing status on the local tennis calendar.

Organizers say the increased investment reflects a long-term commitment to nurturing local tennis talent and raising the standard of competition. Last year’s event featured a prize purse of Rs. 2.5 million, with the amount steadily increasing over recent years.

Tournament officials expressed their ambition of developing the championship into a future ‘Colombo Open’ capable of attracting leading players from across South Asia. They emphasized that the event is not only about tennis but also about building a strong sporting identity for Sri Lanka.

The championship will feature Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles events, as well as Mixed Doubles. Junior competitions will be conducted for boys and girls from Under-12 to Under-18 age categories, while senior events will cater to players in the Over-35, Over-45, Over-55 and Over-65 divisions.

Vision Care continues its longstanding support as title sponsor for the 12th consecutive year. Wilson has come on board as the Official Ball Partner.

The sponsorship handover ceremony was attended by Vision Care Managing Director Janaka Fonseka, SLTA Playing Section President Sriya Munasinghe, Captain Prasantha Dissanayake, and other officials representing both the SLTA and Vision Care.