COLOMBO – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera stroked impressive half centuries to propel Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory over West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday. Dilshan belted 62 off 50 balls, including five fours and three sixes, while Samaraweera also punished the West Indian bowlers by flaying the ball to all corners of the ground as he notched up 55 off 56 balls.
Captain Sangakkara top scored with a more sedate 71 off 89 balls, including three fours and a six, as Sri Lanka chased down the target to win with 15 balls to spare. The tourists were all out for 281. After opener Devon Smith was bowled for a duck by Lasith Malinga in the first over, Chris Gayle (58) and Darren Bravo (54) steadied the innings with an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. Gayle was particulary agressive and made the most of his dropped chance on 27.
He smashed 58 off just 38 balls, with eight fours and a six, before Muttiah Muralitharan finally bowled him. However, Gayle’s effort turned out to be in vain as West Indies failed to build on his contribution by losing regular wickets. Malinga and Rangana Herath were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets apiece.
