Windies seal series in style

Middle-order collapse before rain break costs Sri Lanka dear

Last updated: 13th April 2008

Windies seal series in style

Chanderpaul: Another unbeaten half-century

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West Indies took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with Sri Lanka thanks to a seven-wicket win in a rain-hit second ODI in Trinidad.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul followed up his heroics in the series opener with another unbeaten half-century, as the hosts cruised to a revised target of 125.

He put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 107 with Marlon Samuels, who blasted three fours and as many sixes in his innings of 54 not out.

Earlier Sri Lanka had slipped from 78-1 to 112-5 before heavy rain curtailed their innings after just 30.3 overs.

They had already been interrupted by bad weather, with a second break in play working against them as they lost three wickets in the space of just 13 balls straight after the resumption.

Collapse

Such a disappointing display came after Chris Gayle had won the toss and inserted the tourists under cloudy skies.

Upul Tharanga hit five fours to make 40, firstly putting on 38 with opening partner Mahela Udawatte and then adding a further 40 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara.

However, his departure with the score on 78, caught at third slip by Jerome Taylor off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo, sparked a clatter of wickets.

Gayle's decision to introduce himself into the attack proved a masterstroke when Sangakkara helped a legside full toss straight to short fine leg to depart for 28.

Chamara Silva also fell to the spinner after Darren Sammy had tempted Kaushalya Weeraratne to drive in the air straight to Bravo at backward point.

Triple blow

The collapse left West Indies with a much simpler task under the Duckworth-Lewis system, though they soon found themselves in trouble against the new ball.

Nuwan Kulasekara claimed career-best figures of 3-28, beating his efforts from two days earlier of 3-43, to leave the home side reeling at 18-3.

Bravo's promotion to open the innings failed to come off as he was bowled through the gate for just two, while Gayle managed only 11 before lofting the seamer to mid-on.

Ramnaresh Sarwan soon followed when he was adjudged leg before with only one to his name, but once again Chanderpaul came to the rescue, hitting three fours and two sixes to finish on 52 not out.

Samuels proved an able ally in their partnership, the pair appearing to be in a race to see who could get to their 50 first, as West Indies wrapped up the series in style with one game still to play.