Sri Lanka in four wicket win

World Cup warm up match :

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka pulled off a morale boosting four wicket victory over the West Indies in their second ICC World Cup warm up match played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Despite chasing a challenging total of 281 runs the Lankans put their heads down and launched a calculated attack on the West Indies bowlers to reach their victory target with 15 balls and four wickets to spare.

Sri Lanka’s run chase was spearheaded by skipper Kumar Sangakkara who played a classic 71 from 89 deliveries inclusive of one six and three boundaries. The elegant left hander played the sheet anchor role and put on a match winning 100 runs for the fourth wicket along with Thilan Samaraweera.

This was after the openers Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan had provided an excellent start to their reply while adding 67 runs from 10 overs. Dilshan went on to make a splendid 62 from 50 deliveries with the help of three sixes and five boundaries.

After the dismissal of former captain Mahela Jayawardena the pair of Sangakkara and Samaraweera completely took control of the situation and set the pace for their second successive victory. Samaraweera played a typical run a ball knock of 55 inclusive of just two boundaries.

Sri Lanka of course suffered a minor setback while losing both Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews within the space of ten runs. However Chamara Kapugedera added the finishing touches by stroking three boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 18.

Earlier the West Indies put up a tremendous batting performance to hit up a formidable 281 runs from their 50 overs after skipper Darren Sammy had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Dashing opener Chris Gayle led the way with an explosive 58 from just 38 deliveries which included one six and eight boundaries. Together with Darren Bravo the pair put on 85 runs for the second wicket.

In form batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan joined Darren Bravo and the pair consolidated their position with a third wicket partnership of 74 runs.

Sri Lanka of course picked up wickets at regular intervals but could not prevent the run flow which continued until the end. The West Indies late order batting also clicked well with Dwayne Bravo, skipper Darren Sammy and wicket keeper batsman Carlton Baugh all contributing towards their cause.

Sri Lanka’s most successful bowlers were Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath who picked up three wickets each.

		SCORECARD
	
	WEST INDIES

CH Gayle b Muralitharan			58
DS Smith b Malinga			 0
DM Bravo c & b Herath			54
RR Sarwan lbw b Herath			39
S Chanderpaul c Sangakkara b Malinga	16
DJ Bravo lbw Herath			20
DJG Sammy c Dilshan b Malinga		21
CS Bought retired hurt			29
AD Russell not out			19
SJ Benn c Dilshan b Mendis		 0
R Rampaul b Mendis			 0
Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 17)		25
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs)	       281

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-88, 3-162, 4-169
 		5-204, 6-209, 7-243, 8-280
		9-280, 10-281.
Bowling: L Malinga 8-0-33-3
 	 T Perera 5-0-45-0
 	 D Fernando 6-0-50-0
 	 C Kapugedera 1-0-7-0
 	 M Muralitharan 10-0-54-1
 	 A Mendis 10-0-45-2
 	 R Herath 10-0-39-3 

	SRI LANKA innings 

U Tharanga c Gayle b Benn		18  
T Dilshan c Benn b Gayle		62  
K Sangakkara c DM Bravo b Sammy		71  
M Jayawardene c DM Bravo b Russell	20  
T Samaraweera b Benn			55  
A Mathews c DM Bravo b Benn		 5  
C Kapugedera not out			18  
C Silva not out				 4  
Extras (b 7, lb 7, w 12, nb 3)		29      
TOTAL for 6 wickets in 47.3 overs      282  

Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-105, 3-137, 4-237
		 5-255, 6-265   
Bowling: R Rampaul 9-1-49-0
 	 D Sammy 5-0- 29-1
 	 A Russell 4-0-42-1
 	 S Benn 10-0-40-3
 	 D Bravo 8.3-0-55-0
 	 C Gayle 10-0-42-1
 	 R Sarwan 1-0-11-0