Sri Lanka subdued a late fightback by the West Indian lower order to seal a 50-run victory in the Indian Oil Cupat Dambulla today.
The hosts rode on half centuries by captain Marvan Atapattu (70) and Kumara Sangakkara (79) to post a challenging 241 for six but had to resist the brilliant pyrotechniques of all-rounder Dwayne Smith before sailing through at the Rangiri international stadium.
Smith tonked two sixes and nine fours in a defiant innings of 68 from 90 balls, the innings' top score, and threatened at least to deny the Lankans their bonus point.
The right-hander was involved in two vital partnerships, adding 46 runs with Denesh Ramdin (29) for the seventh wicket but more destructive was his 43-run stand with Deighton Butler (13 not out) that came in less than seven overs.
Smith's innings came to a tame end when he played on to his stumps a Muttiah Muralitharan delivery in the 44th over.
The Caribbean islanders were eventually all out for 191, two short of the target to deny the hosts a bonus point, in 45.1 overs.
The second string West Indies side however were done in by the the early jolts inflicted by speedster Farveez Maharoof, who returned with brilliant analysis of three for nine, and Dilhara Lokuhettige (2-30).
Muralitharan's 2-46 was not his usual economical figures but the bowler to suffer the most from Smith's blade was Upul Chandana (1-65).
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Sri Lanka now lead the table with 11 points followed by India who have seven. West Indies are yet to open their account.
Sri Lanka at one time had reduced the West Indies to 39 for five before the unexpected resistance came through Smith who made his highest-ever score.
The tenor was set by new ball bowler Farvez Mahroof who bowled his 10 overs in one go.
Mahroof took out the openers Xavier Marshall (8) and Ryan Ramdass (1) and then also accounted for Ricardo Powell (2) to leave the West Indies in tatters.
In between, young Lokuhettige took out Sylvester Joseph (9) and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (14), the latter through a brilliant catch in his follow through.
The lower half made the Sri Lankan bowlers struggle but there was never any sense of contest in the game.
Earlier, Atapattu (70) and Sangakkara (79) were involved in a 138-runs second wicket stand from 207 balls which laid the foundation of a good total after debutant Upul Tharanga (6) departed with only 11 runs on the board.
Tharanga fell leg before paceman Deighton Butler before the second wicket stand tookroot and denied the hapless West Indian bowlers breakthrough for a major part of their innings.
The two lasted till the 36th over before Sangakkara holed out a catch to covers off the spin of Narsingh Deonarine, making his 79 runs from 115 balls with nine fours.
Sangakkara also had a life at 22 when Tino Best missed a caught and bowled chance with the total reading 62 for 1 in the 22nd over.
Sri Lanka then lost four wickets in a bunch before the innings was again revived by Russel Arnold (21) and Upul Chandana (15)who put on 47 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand. Sangakkara was the first to go as his half hearted straight drive found Chanderpaul at mid-off.
Lokuhettige, promoted up the order, then stepped out of the crease and played all over an innocuous delivery to be beaten and stumped.
Atapattu became a victim of poor calling by his deputy Mahela Jayawardene when the latter called for a second run after a fumble by Butler at long-off.
Butler however recovered quickly and his throw to the batsman's end was on top of the bails for wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin to complete a simple job.
Jayawardene (16) too did not last long as a straighter one from Smith was right on the blockhole.
When Tillekaratne Dilshan (4) became the second batsman to be run out, Lanka had slipped from 141 for one to 205 for six inside nineovers.
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PTI
