Mendis and Perera help Sri Lanka to their first T20 series win over the West Indies

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera scored half-centuries to lead Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket victory in the third and final Twenty20 international and claim their first series victory over the West Indies on Thursday.

Sri Lanka scored 166 for just one wicket with two overs to spare after the tourists scored 162-8 at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. Rovman Powell had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Sri Lanka started their fightback with openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka adding 60 runs for the first wicket.

Nissanka (39) was bowled by spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Then Mendis and Perera added an unbeaten 106 runs for the second wicket to take their team home. It was Sri Lanka's first win in the bilateral Twenty20 series against the West Indies.

Mendis was unbeaten on 68 off 50 deliveries, including three sixes and five boundaries. Perera received 36 deliveries for his 55 runs, which included seven boundaries.

Earlier, Motie had scored 32 off 15 to boost the West Indies' strike rate by hitting three sixes and a boundary. Powell scored 37 off 27 and also hit three sixes and a boundary.

Spin bowlers Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.

West Indies won the first game by five wickets and Sri Lanka bounced back with a 73-run win in the second game.

Mendis was named player of the match. Nissanka, who scored 104 runs in the series, was named player of the series.

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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket