An inexperienced West Indies put up a spirited display to pull off an upset victory over hosts Sri Lanka, making tomorrow's encounter with India a must-win situation for both the teams in their bid to enter the final of the Indian Oil Cup.
The West Indies, without many of the top players who boycotted the tour over a contract dispute with their board, put up a competitive 226 for seven before bowling out the Lankans for 193 with three overs to spare at the PremadasaStadium.
It was the first victory on the tour for the second string side that was made up of players quickly drafted from an 'A' team after the senior players including Brian Lara refused to come on board and has given them a chance to qualify for the final on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka have ensured their berth in the final before the match but India, who have beaten the Windies in their earlier encounter but lost to Sri Lanka twice, must defeat the Caribbeans to enter the final.
The West Indies win, their first after losing 11 successive games, was the handiwork of its bowlers and fielders who defended a reasonable total. It gives the West Indies their first win from three games in the competition, the same asthe Indians have managed and tomorrow's game between the two, the last league game, would decide who gets the chance to meet Sri Lanka in final.
There was no hint of such a collapse when Sri Lanka moved to 64 for one in the 15th over but then three wickets for an addition of only nine runs turned the game on its head.
Kumara Sangakkara fell to Darren Powell for 7 and then Dwayne Smith struck twice off successive balls to give the visitors scent of a rare win.
Smith cleaned up opener Upul Tharanga (25) and then won a leg before shout against Tillekeratne Dilshan (0) to leave the hosts gasping.
Off-spinner Omari Banks then provided with couple of strikes in mid-stage when he dismissed Mahela Jayawardene (22) and Upul Chandana (4) and Sri Lanka were now reeling at 107 for six in the 30th over.
The odds now began to get stacked against Sri Lanka even though Russel Arnold (59) and Ferveez Maharoof (20) fought on gamely putting 33 runs for the seventh wicket before the latter was caught in the slips off mercurial Tino Best.The West Indies then chipped in with two more wickets of Nuwan Zoysa (8) and Muttiah Muralitharan (1) to leave the hosts with the tall target of scoring 55 runs from 43 balls.
Earlier, the West Indies innings was built around two half centuries from their captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57 off 79 balls) and Sylvester Joseph (58 off 92 balls) even though the late flourish from the rest of the batsmen didn't arrive.
The West Indies were still disappointed that most of their top order batsmen entered into double figures but failed to make an impact.
The West Indies lost their way around the 37th over when Muralitharan tied down Banks (33) for two or three overs and then they started to panic.
No less than four West Indian batsmen, Xavier Marshall (8), Joseph (58), Banks (33)and Ricardo Powell (8) were run out but it was obvious that the visitors have learnt a few lessons from this taxing tour.
West Indies at one stage were 152 for 2 in the 37th over before they lost their way.
Chanderpaul shared a good 72-run second wicket stand with Joseph which suggested his team could climb up to 250 runs by the end but Sri Lanka fought back well in the middleovers.
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Returning fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa didn't have a great game and finished with no wicket and 47 runs from his eight overs.
But the rest of the bowlers, Mahroof (0 for 35), Dilhara Fernando (0 for 34), Muralitharan (1 for 32) and Chandana (2 for 49) were on the spot.
PTI
