West Indies [Images] recovered from a shaky start to defeat Sri Lanka [Images] by seven wickets in the rain-affected second one-day international on Saturday and claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Set a target of 125 to win in 25 overs after rain halted Sri Lanka's innings at 112 for five after 30.3 overs, the hosts were in trouble at 18 for three before Shivnarine Chanderpaul [Images] (52 not out) and Marlon Samuels (54 not out) saw them home.

Sri Lanka's early breakthrough came courtesy of the lively seam bowling of Nuwan Kulasekara, who dismissed openers Dwayne Bravo [Images] and Chris Gayle cheaply before taking the precious wicket of the in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan [Images].

But then Chanderpaul, who won the first game on Thursday with a six off the last ball, and Samuel produced a partnership of 107 in 14.4 overs -- at an impressive 7.29 runs an over -- to secure victory with 27 balls remaining.

Samuels, who hit three fours and three sixes in an impressive knock, was badly in need of a score after failing throughout the two Tests and Thursday's opening one-day game.

He kept his cool and punished the bad ball severely as Chris Gayle's side continued an impressive run against the Sri Lankans following last week's win in the second Test.

Sri Lanka's effort was cut short by the rain but just at the moment when the hosts were getting into the middle order.

The opening pair put on 38 before Mahela Udawatte (14) took a big swing at Jerome Taylor [Images] and skied a catch to Sewnarine Chattergoon.

The other opener Upul Tharanga made a smart 40 before he went with the score at 78 for two -- the Sri Lanka opener slashing out to Taylor at deep point off Dwayne Bravo.

After a break for rain, West Indies grabbed three quick wickets in damp and overcast conditions before the heavens opened.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (28) will be furious with himself after driving a slow full-toss from Gayle straight to Ramnaresh Sarwan at square leg.

A slower ball from Darren Sammy dismissed Kaushalya Weeraratne (15) who, already committed to the drive, lofted the ball to Bravo at backward point.

Then Gayle struck again, a full-length delivery bowling Chamara Silva (2) who got tangled up as he came down the track.

After three wickets in 13 balls, Gayle's team would have been annoyed to be forced off the field and the adjusted target under Duckworth-Lewis required a run-rate of five an over.

Once again though the experienced Chanderpaul proved valuable.

The three-match series ends on Tuesday with a day/night game in St Lucia.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka:
U Tharanga c Taylor b Bravo 40
M Udawatte c Chattergoon b Taylor 14
K Sangakkara c Sarwan b Gayle 28
K Weeraratne c Bravo b Sammy 15
M Jayawardene not out 4
C Silva b Gayle 2

Extras (lb 8, w 1) 9

Total (for 5 wickets in 30.3 overs) 112

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-78, 3-105, 4-109, 5-112.

Bowling: J Taylor 6-2-10-1, F Edwards 5-0-26-0, D Powell 7-0-21-0, D Bravo 6-0-16-1, D Sammy 5-0-25-1, C Gayle 1.3-0-6-2.

West Indies: (Target: 125 runs from 25 overs)
C Gayle c Weeraratne b Kulasekara 11
D Bravo b Kulasekara 2
R Sarwan lbw b Kulasekara 1
S Chanderpaul not out 52
M Samuels not out 54

Extras (lb 3, w 2) 5

Total (for 3 wickets in 20.3 overs) 125

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-15, 3-18.

Bowling: C Vaas 4-0-21-0, N Kulasekara 5-0-28-3, K Weeraratne 3-0-24-0, A Mendis 4-0-21-0, C Kapugedera 4-0-25-0, T Dilshan 0.3-0-3-0.