DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka), Aug 2: Fast bowler Farveez Maharoof snapped up three wickets for nine runs to set up Sri Lanka’s 50-run victory over West Indies in the third match of the triangular series on Tuesday. Maharoof removed both openers before West Indies, replying to Sri Lanka’s 241 for six, were bowled out for 191 in 45.1 overs having partially recovered after being reduced to 75 for six in the 25th over.

Dwayne Smith top-scored with a career-best 68 but the visiting team were always likely to struggle in the absence of 10 of their leading players because of a contract dispute between the West Indies board and the players’ association.

Sri Lanka’s total was built around well-paced innings by captain Marvan Atapattu, who struck 70, and Kumar Sangakkara, with 79. The pair shared a stand of 138 runs for second wicket.

Sri Lanka’s new ball bowlers Maharoof and Dilhara Lokuhettige, called up in place of the injured Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa, then bowled superbly to knock over the West Indies top order.

Maharoof moved the ball off the seam in an unbroken 10-over spell that conceded just nine runs for the wickets of Ryan Ramdass (one), Xavier Marshall (six) and Ricardo Powell (two).

Ramdass, making his One-day International debut, chopped on to his stumps, Marshall nicked a leg-cutter and Powell was bowled off his pads by a delivery that nipped back off the seam.

Maharoof also chipped in with a brilliant diving catch at long leg, three balls after a spilling a simple chance in the same position, to dismiss Slyvester Joseph for nine after the batsman flicked a Lokuhettige delivery off his pads.

Lokuhettige, bowling into a strong wind, swung the ball away and also picked up the prized wicket of West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 14 with a low return catch.

West Indies, reeling at 39 for five in the 15th over and then 75 for six in the 25th, were never likely to recover but Smith mounted a brave fightback with an explosive 90-ball knock that included nine fours and two sixes.

Smith carried the attack to Sri Lanka’s spinners, especially Upul Chandana who conceded 65 runs in his 10 overs, in partnerships of 46 with Denesh Ramdin and 49 with debutant Deighton Butler.

Earlier, uncapped Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga, replacing the injured Sanath Jayasuriya who dislocated his shoulder at the weekend, was trapped lbw early after misjudging the length of Butler delivery.

Playing his first One-day International, the 31-year-old Butler tied down the Sri Lanka batsmen in an accurate 10-over spell before finishing with two for 25.

Sangakkara raised the tempo after reaching the 20th fifty of his career before scooping a catch straight to Chanderpaul at cover off part-time spinner Narsingh Deonarine in the 36th over.

Sangakkara had faced 115 balls and hit nine boundaries. His dismissal sparked a rush of wickets as Sri Lanka, in the hunt for quick runs, slipped from 149 for one to 205 for six in the next eight overs.

Russel Arnold (21 not out) and Chandana (15 not out) scrambled 36 runs from the last 33 balls to lift Sri Lanka to 241.

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