Sri Lanka win 2nd ODI against West Indies

[DexteR]

Sri Lanka came up with a disciplined bowling performance to restrict West Indies to 203 in the second one-day international in Colombo. Given the persistent rain over previous two days, the toss was vital and Sri Lanka had no hesitation in inviting West Indies to bat on the same surface on which the first match was played three days ago.

Openers Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath negotiated some testing overs from Lasith Malinga and Nuwana Kulasekara to add 45 runs within the first 10 overs, before Kulasekara trapped Barath, who made a century in the first ODI, lbw, playing across the line to a ball that pitched on off stump.

Gayle, who had previously hit Kulasekara for a six and four in one over, then edged Muttiah Muralitharan to Thilan Samaraweera at second slip. Gayle came forward to a good length ball and was surprised by the bounce that Murali got off the very first ball of his spell.

The fall of the openers on 45 slowed West Indies' run-rate and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara took advantage of it by getting a few overs from part-time offspinner Tillakaratne Dilshan in. West Indies looked to be getting their innings back on track as Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 49 runs off 96 balls. The stand ended when Sarwan, who was backing up too far at the non-striker's end, was run out after a hard drive by Darren Bravo hit the stumps off bowler Rangana Herath's hand. Darren was joined by his half-brother Dwayne Bravo and the duo put on 38 before Malinga, returning for his second spell, trapped Darren lbw with a reverse-swinging delivery. Another reverse-swinging delivery from Malinga soon accounted for the dangerous Kieron Pollard, who played down the wrong line, and had his off stump pegged back.

Dwayne and Carlton Baugh added a further 37 runs to take West Indies to 175 for 5 before Herath, who had bowled a tight line and length, was finally rewarded with the wicket of Dwayne. The remaining West Indies batsmen failed to offer much resistance as the last four wickets fell for just 16 runs.

It was an all-round bowling effort from the Sri Lankans, with Malinga the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30. Sri Lanka's fielder backed their bowlers with some excellent ground fielding and missed just one catch when Angelo Mathews dropped Baugh at long leg.

Match Summary

West Indies 203/9 (overs : 50)
DJ Bravo 39
CH Gayle 28

L Malinga 3/30
M Muralitharan 2/42

Sri Lanka 199/2 (overs : 42.3) [reduced to 47 overs D/L Method]
WU Tharanga 101*
DP Jayawardena 48*

R Rampaul 1/27
DJ Bravo 1/29

Match: Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (with 27 balls remaining) [D/L method]
Toss: Sri Lanka, who chose to field
Series: Sri Lanka lead 3 match ODI series 1-0
Player of the Match: WU Taranga [for 101* not out]