Chris Gayle misses one and is bowled, Sri Lanka v West Indies, World Cup warm-up match, Colombo
Captain Kumar Sangakkara tuned up for the World Cup with a gritty half-century as he guided Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory over the West Indies in a warm-up match. Sangakkara hit 71 off 89 balls while Tillakaratne Dilshan (62) and Thilan Samaraweera (55) also showed good batting form at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka secured 282 runs for the loss of six wickets in 47.3 overs in reply to the West Indies’ effort of 281 all out.
Dilshan set up a solid platform in the run- chase, hitting three sixes — two off medium fast bowler Andre Russell — and five boundaries as Sri Lanka blazed to 67 in 10 overs.
However, Dilshan gave a regulation catch to Sulieman Benn at square leg in the 19th over off Chris Gayle’s off spin and six overs later Mahela Jayawardene was caught behind after scoring 20.
Sangakkara settled the innings in a decisive fourth wicket stand with Thilan Samaraweera of 100 runs off 96 balls before the skipper edged behind the wicket off his counterpart Darren Sammy’s gentle medium pace. The dismissal left Sri Lanka on 237- 7.
Samaraweera also grounded out a half century off 56 balls with only two boundaries before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Benn (3- 40) in the first over of batting power-play.
Chamara Kapugedera (18 not out) struck two successive boundaries off Dwayne Bravo on either side of the wicket to bring up the victory in the 48th over.
Earlier, Gayle and Darren Bravo hit contrasting half-centuries in what appeared an impressive West Indies total.
Gayle played in his usual flamboyant style to score 58 off 38 balls, while Bravo made 54 after captain Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat.
Carlton Baugh Jr (29) and Russell (19) made useful contributions in the last five overs which yielded 42 runs and gave the West Indies bowlers a chance to have a crack at the tournament co-hosts under flood lights.
However, the early wicket made little difference on Gayle’s aggressive style of batting. The former West Indian captain dominated 85- run second wicket stand with Bravo and hit eight fours and a six.
Gayle escaped a chance on 27 when the ball flew past Rangana Herath at mid-on, off medium fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, before spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowled him in the 12th over.
Bravo shared another useful stand of 74 with Ramnaresh Sarwan ( 39) before left-arm spinner Herath removed both in successive overs to briefly peg back the West Indies surge.
But Russell and Baugh Jr accelerated the scoring rate late in the innings with the former lofting Fernando for a straight six.
Malinga and Herath were the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers and both claimed three wickets each for 33 and 39 runs respectively. (Jamaica Observer)
