Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 422 Wed. August 03, 2005  
   
Sports


Easy win for Sri Lanka


Sri Lanka eased to a 50-run win over West Indies in the Indian Oil Cup tri-series despite some big hitting from Dwayne Smith.

Captain Marvan Atapattu (70) and Kumar Sangakkara (79) put on 138 for the second wicket as the hosts made 241-6 in the third match of the meet on Tuesday.

Farveez Maharoof took 3-9 in 10 overs as the West Indies collapsed to 39-5 in reply and a rout looked on the cards.

Smith restored some respectability with two big sixes in his 68 but Muttiah Muralitharan (2-45) bowled him as Sri Lanka claimed their second victory.

For the West Indies -- missing 10 established players -- it was another comprehensive loss following the defeat by India on Sunday.

Scoring proved difficult for the third successive game at the Rangiri Stadium and Sri Lanka suffered an early casualty after Atapattu won the toss.

After a square drive for four, Upul Tharanga -- playing in place of the injured Sanath Jayasuriya -- was soon on his way after missing an attempted pull off a delivery from fellow debutant Deighton Butler which kept lower than he expected.

Atapattu and Sangakkara struggled to get the ball away in a cautious opening, although the captain thrashed two Butler deliveries through the off-side for boundaries in the ninth over.

Sangakkara played a lovely cover drive off Jermaine Lawson and an authoritative pull off Tino Best as he got into his stride.

They had started accelerating when Sangakkara perished to a poor shot, hitting Narsingh Deonarine straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at cover, before the same bowler had Dilhara stumped.

Atapattu then paid for attempting a second run on Butler's fumble at long-off, only to see the paceman to throw accurately to keeper Denesh Ramdin, who ran him out by some distance.

Mahela Jayawardene's innings was exciting -- and short. After slogging Lawson over mid-wicket for six, he was cleaned up by Smith's yorker.

When a direct hit from Smith at point rant out Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply, Sri Lanka were 205-6 and in danger of folding in a hurry.

But Russel Arnold and Chandana batted sensibly to help set a decent total which was put into perspective when the Windies top order collapsed in spectacular fashion.

Picture
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara pulls one for four during his knock of 79 against West Indies in the Indian Oil Cup at Dambulla on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP