SL chase 312 for series win

West Indies Brian Lara once again came up with a superb innings to take his team to the score that looks too hot to handle by the Sri Lankans, but his bowlers could not perform to the par and they lost the three match series as the South Asian team won two matches in two days at Bridgetown, Barbados.

Given 312 runs to chase after losing the toss and bowling, Sri Lankan batsmen found much needed batting form with some blasting by man of the match Upul Chandana. Chandana's 89 of 71 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes enabled Marvan Atapattu's team to reach the score while three balls and four wickets were remaining.

The thriller match looked like a defeat for Lankans as Lara with his 116 (106 balls, 8x4, 2x6) took his team to the highest score of the Kingston Oval ground. He came to the pinch after Wavell Hinds fell cheaply for 10 leaving his team at 30/1 in 10.3 overs.

Chaminda Vaas and Prabath Nissanka bowled superbly well to contain the home team but once Lara entered the crease, as most of the time, it was the batting that took control of the match. He added 137 runs with Chris Gayle for second wicket in 26 overs.

Gayle scored 94 in 125 balls with 12 fours and two sixes but was unfortunately ran himself out and could not complete the milestone. Nine balls after, Ramnaresh Sarwan fell in similar fashion.

Then comes the blaster, Marlon Samuels. Samuels made home supporters go frenzy scoring a brilliant half century, 56 runs, in just 36 balls with 6 fours and a six. Samuels and Lara added 109 runs in 55 balls.

Sri Lankan bowlers went for bad spells as Nissanka gave 67 off his 10 overs, Jayasuriya 51 off 6 overs, Chandana 40 off 4 overs, Muralitharan 53 off 10 overs and Dharmasena 54 off 8 overs.

Sri Lanka also started well as Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana added 71 runs in first 61 balls. Jayasuriya fell first having scored 41 runs (35 balls, 5x4, 1x6) and Kalu followed at 34 (36 balls, 3x4) to leave Sri Lanka at 78/2 in 12.2 overs.

Captain Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara consolidated the innings. Atapattu scored 47 runs off 54 balls without any four but a six before being run out. Sanagakkara scored 31 off 56 balls with just one four.

When Atapattu returned at 153, Chandana came in with a different mood. When he gave a catch to Recordo Powell off Collymore after 19.5 overs, he had already taken his team to a position to win the series. His 89 quick runs were instrumental for Lanka's win and his career best batting.

Brief Scorecard: West Indies 312/4 (Brian Lara 116, Chris Gayle 94, Chaminda Vaas 1/33) lost to Sri Lanka 313/6 in 49.3 overs (Upul Chandana 89, Marvan Atapattu 47, Drakes 2/49) by four wickets.

Posted by Ujjwol