COLOMBO, 7 August 2005 — Seamer Dwayne Smith and spinner Omari Banks shared four crucial wickets to shape the West Indies’ stunning 33-run victory over Sri Lanka in a triangular one-day series match here yesterday.
Smith grabbed two wickets off successive balls and Banks took two scalps in three overs as the West Indies dismissed Sri Lanka for 193 after scoring a modest 226-7 in the day-night game.
Russel Arnold top-scored with a gutsy 59, but his effort failed to stop the West Indies from posting their first win in three matches. The win kept alive the West Indies’ hopes of qualifying for the final. India and the West Indies clash in the last league match here today to decide Sri Lanka’s opponents in the final. Both sides have one win in three games.
The West Indies are without their stars following a contract dispute between players and their cricket board. Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya missed out on becoming the fourth batsman, after Indians Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly and Pakistan’s Inzamam ul-Haq, to complete 10,000 runs. Jayasuriya, returning from a shoulder injury, needed 33 more runs to join the 10,000-club but could manage only 23.
Earlier, the West Indies posted their highest total following Sylvester Joseph’s career-best 58 and skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 57, but still failed to set a stiff target. Poor running between wickets dashed the West Indies’ hopes of reaching a challenging total as four batsmen were run out.
But the West Indies showed they had the bowlers to defend a small total. Smith and off-spinner Banks swung the match in the West Indies’ favour when they reduced Sri Lanka from a comfortable 64-1 to 107-6. Smith began the slide when he bowled Upul Tharanga (25) and then trapped Tillakaratne Dilshan leg-before with his next delivery.
Banks got the prize wicket of stand-in captain Mahela Jayawardene (22), caught in the deep by Daren Powell while attempting a big shot. His next victim was Upul Chandana, caught by substitute Runako Morton. Morton fielded in place of Chanderpaul, who was down with a mild fever.
Both Jayawardene and Chandana had played crucial roles in their team’s win over India at Dambulla on Wednesday, sharing a 126-run stand for the unfinished seventh wicket.
Sri Lanka’s fortunes nose-dived after the duo’s dismissals. Smith and Banks were well-supported by seamer Daren Powell (2-28) and spinner Narsingh Deonarine (2-18), who completed the win when he bowled Arnold in the 47th over.
The West Indies crossed the 200-mark for the first time in the series, thanks to Chanderpaul and Joseph.
Left-handed Chanderpaul, playing as an opener for the first time in the series, steadied the innings after his team lost Xavier Marshall (eight) in early overs.
The West Indies captain put on 72 for the second wicket with Joseph before being caught by Farveez Maharoof at point while cutting leg-spinner Chandana.
Chanderpaul had been looking solid during his 35th half-century, which contained eight fours.
Joseph then added 55 for the third wicket with Deonarine (21). He was run out soon after completing his first half-century in 12 matches.
