West Indies beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in opening T20 cricket match at Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston: Rovman Powell hit a six in the final over Thursday to clinch a seven-wicket win for the West Indies over Sri Lanka in the first of three Twenty20 cricket matches.

West Indies made a match of it with its late slow run rate chasing 147-9, despite scoring 66 runs in its first six overs.

Needing 20 runs from 20 balls, it was reduced to needing a run a ball from nine balls before Powell clinched the win with the home side's 149-3 total with four balls remaining.


Captain and opener Shai Hope led the Caribbean team with an unbeaten 65.

After Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, Kamindu Mendis top-scored with 51 runs and captain and opener Kusal Mendis added 36. The two players are not related.

Jason Holder and Shamar Joseph led the West Indian bowlers with three wickets each.

"It was a really good bowling performance and credit to our bowlers," Holder said. "We always think about getting wickets in the dressing room. I was thinking to attack."

Sri Lanka won the preceding - and soggy - three-match ODI series 1-0 after the final two matches were rained out. Sri Lanka won the first match by 41 runs.

The final two matches in the T20 series are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, also at Sabina Park in Kingston. (AP)