Sri Lanka vs West Indies cricket history spans four decades from rain-drenched Manchester days in 1975 to Dambulla’s sun-baked thrills in 2024, each match-up offering drama, heroism and shared memories – from Vivian Richards’s signature style to Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell speech and beyond.
Dunith Wellalage’s spinners caused mayhem amongst Windies batsmen; but Lewis and King kept attacking from ball one. You can check the full Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs West Indies Cricket Team Match Scorecard for detailed statistics and highlights.
| # | Date | Format | Venue | Sri Lanka (SL) | West Indies (WI) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 Oct 2024 | T20I | Rangiri Dambulla Int’l, Dambulla | 179‑7 (20 ov) (Cricbuzz) | 180‑5 (19.1 ov) (ESPN Cricinfo) | WI won by 5 wickets (Cricbuzz) |
| 2 | 15 Oct 2024¹ | T20I | — | — | — | SL won (series) (details not fully retrieved) (MyKhel) |
| 3 | 17 Oct 2024¹ | T20I | — | — | — | SL won (series) (details not fully retrieved) (Wikipedia) |
| 4 | 26 Oct 2024 | ODI | Pallekele Int’l, Kandy | 156‑3 (23 ov) (Cricbuzz) | 196‑2 (22 ov) (Cricbuzz) | WI won by 8 wickets (DLS) (Cricbuzz) |
| 5 | Earlier ODI in same 2024 series² | ODI | Sri Lanka | (SL won) | (WI lost) | SL winning earlier match(es) in series (Cricbuzz) |
1975 World Cup
Imagine two teams entering a cricket pitch: one from an idyllic tea plantation setting and the other hailing from a Caribbean island where calypso rhythms collide with leather on willow – this has been the scene of one of cricket’s great rivalries over decades, offering thrilling comebacks and lessons in sportsmanship along the way.
Even with rain-affected games, the 1975 World Cup proved an instant classic. England easily navigated their group matches while West Indians defeated New Zealand before knocking Australia off at The Oval – showing themselves far above East Africa, who consisted largely of weekend club cricketers unfamiliar with such international standards.
But the final was truly unforgettable: led by the charismatic Viv Richards, the Windies were unstoppable – with Richards’ infectious swagger dismantling Lanka’s resilient defense led by Aravinda De Silva’s magnificent performance of scoring 76 runs to claim their first ever World Cup championship and ensure this tournament would never be the same again.
1993 Tests
In 1993, India and Sri Lanka met in their inaugural Test matchup at Galle. A low-scoring contest, reduced by rain to 39 overs a side, saw India win and extend their home winning streak to 11.
In the 1990s, both teams experienced intense moments. While their initial ODIs were drawn, Sri Lanka made its presence felt in 1995-96 by dominating West Indies whitewashes thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya’s devastating power hitting and setting their trademark with Sanath Jayasuriya’s brutal power hitting. While West Indies secured two series wins during 2002’s series and another in 2004, their form soon faded thereafter and eventually they succumbed to a 5-1 defeat courtesy of Kumar Sangakkara’s marathon 287 at Gros Islet in St Lucia marked as turning point against them and that marked by Sangakkara’s marathon 287 marked as turning point against them and marked a turning point against them and their host side in 2008.
By the 2010s, tensions had begun to flare once more. Sri Lanka came out victorious at home in 2010, winning 1-0 before going on to defeat Windies 4-1 with Chris Gayle’s helicopter shots and Darren Sammy’s charisma proving devastating in 2015. But they rallied from that rout and reached the 2016 World Cup semi-final against an evolving Sri Lanka team led by Mahela Jayawardene; unfortunately they reached an impasse and the rivalry continued through T20 cricket.
1995-96 ODIs
Cricket’s magic lies in its crack of leather against willow, evoking emotions from start to finish and pumping adrenaline through your veins – this is its allure! And nothing compares with an exciting Sri Lanka vs West Indies encounter for edge-of-your-seat drama – whether you’re newcomer or veteran fan alike, no rivalry has more suspenseful action than this rivalry: heroes rise, villains fall and lessons in sportsmanship are learned along the way!
In the 1990s, Sri Lanka and Pakistan battled it out in one-day internationals (ODIs). Sanath Jayasuriya’s incredible performance at Karachi in 1996 ODI semi-final proved decisive; he scored an unbeaten 104 off 52 balls to secure Sri Lanka victory, while Romesh Kaluwitharana’s 118-run opening stand with Romesh Kaluwitharana set the stage for success. At that moment in time, Sri Lanka finally had some teeth!
The 2000s witnessed the rivalry intensify further: Mahela Jayawardene’s brilliant Test performances gave Sri Lanka stability at Test level while Kumar Sangakkara’s 287 at Gros Islet in 2005 revealed Kumar Sangakkara’s class. Meanwhile, in 2010s, Sri Lanka secured two 5-0 series wins while Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy gave Windies the edge in T20s. 2024 brought new excitement as fiery Sangakkara and up-and-comer Jason Holder went head-to-head on one another’s shoulders!
2001-02 Tests
The new millennium brought new energy and passion into their rivalry. While Test matches remained even, ODIs were explosive with Chris Gayle and Andre Russell captivating spectators with helicopter shots and T20 explosions respectively. Sri Lanka proved adaptable though with spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Dowrich joining young talent like Dunith Wellalage and Guerkesh Motie as key members of their attack.
Today’s matches between Sri Lanka’s National Cricket Team and West Indies Cricket Team still deliver thrilling action and dramatic collapses that make you sit up straight! They illustrate small nations punching above their weight while teaching unity and sportsmanship lessons; kids learning the game for the first time discover Lankan hospitality while Caribbean flair; while longtime fans reminisce fond memories.
At Galle, both teams gave it their all and gave an exciting contest an epic ending. The Windies scored 351 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 142 and Sri Lanka’s fielding and attack dominating, but their chase was equally engaging; Shai Hope hit an unbeaten 68 off 35; Brandon King unbeaten 73 was full of flair while Alzarri Joseph and Mahesh Theekshana took wickets while spinners Alzarri Joseph and Mahesh Theekshana took wickets while their spinners provided extras with extras which ultimately sealed Sri Lanka victory with Upul Tharanga unbeaten 56, showing they were superior over their opponents.
2003 World Cup
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), commonly referred to as The Lions, represents Sri Lanka internationally in cricket competition. They play all three formats of the game as members of International Cricket Council (ICC).
After being eliminated at the group stage of each of their first five World Cups, Sri Lanka made history in their sixth tournament under captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s guidance by reaching the final and winning their inaugural title. They would go on to capture two additional crowns over subsequent years while sharing one Champions Trophy trophy with India in 2002.
In the 2000s, a new wave of players emerged. These included wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara, batsman Mahela Jayawardene, allrounder Tillakaratne Dilshan, spinner Rangana Herath and fast bowler Lasith Malinga; together these five went on to win both ODI and T20 World Cup titles together while finishing runners-up twice in this latter format.
1996 ODIs
By 1996, tension was running high. Sri Lanka had established themselves as Test-status after winning their debut World Cup campaign at Old Trafford and playing Australia and Zimbabwe to a draw, before defeating Windies 5-0 at tri-series final stage. From there on out, ODI results often oscillated wildly; for instance Viv Richards’ confidence was reduced significantly due to Murali Herath and Kumar Sangakkara’s elegant strokeplay while Sri Lanka continued with its dominating performances against Australia and Zimbabwe in tri series finale before defeat.
Scoreline was secondary; what mattered was how teams battled their minds and balls to succeed. No matter if you are new to basketball or an experienced veteran looking back on past glory days – this gripping drama left fans of all ages breathless with suspenseful drama. Heroes rise and opponents fall, from Jayasuriya’s 1996 semi-final blitz and Lara’s marathon St. Lucia Test, to Dunith Wellalage’s home deck blitzes and Shai Hope’s T20 power play which echo an earlier era. But the stats speak for themselves: Sri Lanka leads Tests at home, ODIs are relatively even and T20s favor West Indies slightly. This timeline of action, glory, and good vibes offers plenty of entertainment – so sit back, sip some tea, and watch! (All stats come from official sources unless otherwise indicated. All times GMT).
2024 T20s
Since 1975, Windies-Lanka cricket rivalry has provided thrilling drama. From Viv Richards’ charisma to Brian Lara’s artistic brilliance, their players have given fans lasting memories to cherish over time.
In 2024, both teams met in a three-match T20 series which saw heavy defeat for each side – West Indies were on the receiving end of a 3-0 home drubbing while Sri Lanka received five goals for loss from West Indies; South African Proteas’ run at World Cup 2022 saw them fall from glory in all bilateral T20 series since.
Starting Friday at the brand new Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island – just an hour and a half from Manhattan) – India and South Africa will reunite for a four-match T20 series that starts off Friday, starting off with Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel’s bids to be included as core group players going forward. India currently sits top in ICC T20I rankings while South Africa stands sixth.
