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Sri Lanka 202-5 (Jayawardene 67, Kandamby 44no) beat
West Indies 201 (Smith 67, Richards 59) by five wickets
ICC Champions Trophy warm-up, Pretoria
Mahela Jayawardene stroked a half-century to guide Sri Lanka to a comfortable five-wicket win over the West Indies in their final warm-up match ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pretoria.
Jayawardene made 67 and Thilina Kandamby an unbeaten 44 to help Sri Lanka reach a target of 202 in 41.1 overs following three wickets apiece for Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis to bowl the West Indies out for 201.
The Caribbean side's low total came despite contrasting half-centuries from Dale Richards and Devon Smith. Richards hammered 59 in 60 balls from the top of the order and Smith, in at number three, made 67 in 102 deliveries as the middle order collapsed alarmingly.
Darren Sammy came in at number nine and was the only other man to reach double figures, hitting 20 as spinners Muralitharan and Mendis put the inexperienced batting line-up under pressure.
As if that wasn't enough, the extreme pace of Lasith Malinga accounted for two wickets while Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara grabbed one apiece.
In reply, Tillakaratne Dilshan made just two before he was bowled by Sammy and his opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya made just 21 before Sammy had him caught by Gavin Tonge.
Jayawardene then added 44 with Kumar Sangakkara (35) and although the wickets of the wicket-keeper and Thilan Samaraweera (9) offered the West Indies some hope, they hit the buffers thanks to Jayawardene's 67 in 93 balls.
He was dismissed when he hit his wicket which left Thilina Kandamby to bring the Sri Lankans home and he closed on 44 alongside Angelo Mathews, who was not out on nine.
Sri Lanka get the Champions Trophy underway when they play hosts South Africa on 22nd September while the West Indies take on Pakistan one day later.
© Cricket World 2009
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