PALLEKELE: Marlon Samuels hit a magnificent unbeaten 110 to inspire West Indies from a perilous 18-4 to a respectable to 206-9 in the rain-shortened third and final One-day International against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Samuels, who later added 55 for the eighth wicket with Carlos Brathwaite, walked in with West Indies at 16-3 after being asked to bat first at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. He quickly lost another partner but steadied the innings with his ninth ODI century. The 95-ball knock included 15 boundaries and a six.

West Indies had reached 105-6 for midway through the 24 over when heavy rains forced players off the field. When the weather improved after two stoppages, the game was reduced to 36 overs.

Sri Lanka, having already secured the three-match series 2-0, brought in paceman Dushmantha Chameera in place of off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake in the only change from the side that won the second ODI in Colombo.

West Indies captain Jason Holder returned to lead the side after serving a one-match ban along with Denesh Ramdin.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES: J. Charles c Dilshan b Malinga 4 A.D.S. Fletcher lbw b Lakmal 6 J. Blackwood c Dilshan b Malinga 2 D.M. Bravo b Lakmal 4 M.N. Samuels not out 110 D. Ramdin c Perera b Chameera 4 J.L. Carter c Perera b Mendis 6 J.O. Holder c Perera b Chameera 19 C.R. Brathwaite lbw b Mendis 18 S.P. Narine c Chandimal b Mathews 9 R. Rampaul not out 2 EXTRAS (LB-5, W-17) 22 TOTAL (for nine wkts, 36 overs) 206 FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-12, 3-16, 4-18, 5-52, 6-84, 7-109, 8-164, 9-195.
BOWLING: Malinga 7-0-43-2; Lakmal 7-0-40-2 (3w); Chameera 7-0-39-2 (3w); Siriwardana 5-0-17-0; Mendis 8-0-51-2 (3w); Mathews 2-0-11-1. SRI LANKA: M.D.K.J. Perera, T.M. Dilshan, H.D.R.L. Thirimanne, L.D. Chandimal, A.D. Mathews, T.A.M. Siriwardana, D.S.N.F.G. Jayasuriya, P.V.D. Chameera, B.A.W. Mendis, S.L. Malinga, R.A.S. Lakmal. UMPIRES: R.R. Wimalasiri (Sri Lanka) and M.A. Gough (England). TV UMPIRE: R.J. Tucker (Australia). MATCH REFEREE: D.C. Boon (Australia).

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2015

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