Windies beat Sri Lanka

Corey Colleymore grabbed five wickets for 51 runs and Brian Lara scored a quick 60 as the West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 49 runs in the tri-series one-day international in Colombo on Tuesday.

After scoring 250 for 8 in 50 overs, the West Indies bowled the home side out for 201 in 43.2 overs.

Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriaya top scored for his side with a well-made 83.

Earlier, Brian Lara showed the West Indies the way again.

The groundwork was laid by openers Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga, who put on 50 from the first 10 overs on a good batting track after Carl Hooper had won the toss.

The in-form Lara, however, in such good form in the recently-concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, added even further impetus. The left-hander scored at faster than a run-a-ball on the way to a top score of 60, which included six fours and two successive sixes off spinner Kumar Dharmasena.

Ganga made 50 off 68 balls with five fours and a six, putting on 74 off 72 deliveries with number three Lara.

The West Indies, who lost their opening game of the tournament by four wickets to Zimbabwe on Sunday, scored at more than five-and-a-half an over before Lara's dismissal.

Sri Lanka then clawed their way back into the game, with Dharmasena bowling Ridley Jacobs (25) and Pedro Collins (0) off successive deliveries in his final over.

Dharmasena and skipper Sanath Jayasuriya were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming three for 50. Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was the most economical, conceding 35 off 10 overs for the wicket of Hooper.

Mail Cricket Editor