Tharanga Leads Sri Lanka To Eight-Wicket Victory

Tharanga Leads Sri Lanka To Eight-Wicket Victory

Upul Tharanga (left) guides the ball to third man on the way to his century in Colombo

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (SRI LANKA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lanka 199-2 (Tharanga 101no) beat
West Indies 203 (Malinga 3-30) by 8 wickets
Second One-Day International, Colombo
Scorecard

A match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies produced a positive result for the first time during a tour that began in November when Sri Lanka scored an eight-wicket victory in the second One-Day International in Colombo.

Rain saw all three Tests in November and December drawn and washed out the opening ODI but despite showers again interrupting proceedings, Sri Lanka managed to take a 1-0 series lead.

Batting first, the West Indies were dismissed for 203 as Lasith Malinga took three wickets and Upul Tharanga's unbeaten century steered Sri Lanka to a Duckworth/Lewis revised target of 197 with just under five overs to spare.

The West Indies openers Chris Gayle (28) and Adrian Barath (12) added 45 for the first wicket but thereafter, they failed to build big partnerships and lost wickets regularly.

The Bravos - Darren and Dwayne - both scored 39 and wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh was unbeaten on 28 before they were dismissed, the final wicket falling from the last ball of their 50 overs.

There were two wickets apiece for Nuwan Kulasekara and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka then lost Tillakaratne Dilshan for 11 when he was caught by Baugh off Ravi Rampaul but a 70-run partnership for the second wicket between Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara, who made 20, ensured they stayed on course for victory.

Tharanga made his way to his ninth ODI century, finishing unbeaten on 104 having faced 143 balls and hit seven fours. After Sangakkara was caught by Gayle off Dwayne Bravo, Mahela Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 48 to help his side to a comfortable win.

The third and final match takes place in Colombo on 6th February.

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