COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies suffered a dent to their preparations for the World Cup, when Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Thilan Samaraweera struck half-centuries to lead Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory in their final “official” warm-up match yesterday.
West Indies again failed to ease concerns about their bowling, as the Sri Lankans successfully chased 282 for victory with 15 balls remaining at the Premadasa Stadium.
Sulieman Benn was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with three wickets for 40 runs from his allotment of 10 overs, but none of the other bowlers matched either his control or penetration, as Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, led the way with 71, Dilshan supported with 62, and Samaraweera made 55.
The teams now continue their final preparations for the World Cup, which opens on Saturday, but West Indies will have to wait until Thursday next week to play their opening match against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
Chris Gayle had top-scored with eight fours and one six in 58 from 38 balls, and Darren Bravo struck five boundaries in 54 from 78 balls, as West Indies, choosing to bat, were dismissed for 281 in their allocation of 50 overs. Supporting knocks came from Ramnaresh Sarwan (39), Carlton Baugh Jr (29 retired out), West Indies captain Darren Sammy (21), and Dwayne Bravo (20).
West Indies’ batting was again undone by Lasith Malinga with three for 33 from eight overs, Rangana Herath with three for 39 from his 10 overs, and fellow spinner Ajantha Mendis with two for 25 also from 10 overs.
West Indies were put on the back-foot early, when Sri Lanka started their chase, with Dilshan marauding the visitors’ seam bowlers to dominate an opening stand of 67 with left-hander Upul Tharanga.
Benn made the breakthrough, when he snared Tharanga, and Sri Lanka laboured to 137 for three in the 24th over, when Samaraweera joined Sangakkara and the put home team firmly on course with a stand of 100 for the fourth wicket.
Although Benn snared Samaraweera and Mathews, as Sri Lanka stumbled through the closing overs, the result was never in question.
Earlier, West Indies suffered an early setback, when Devon Smith was bowled by Malinga for a four-ball duck in the first over.
Gayle added 88 for the second wicket with Darren Bravo, who also put on 74 with Sarwan, as West Indies reached 162 for two in the 27th over.
But the bottom half of the visitors’ batting failed to come to grips with the Sri Lankan attack.