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GROS ISLET (St Lucia), April 16: Heavy rain caused the third One-day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka to be abandoned after just 18 overs of the hosts’ innings on Tuesday. West Indies won the series 2-0 following their two victories in Trinidad.
Half-centuries by Mahela Udawatte and Tillekeratne Dilshan led Sri Lanka to a total of 257 for eight and West Indies had reached 81 for two before the downpour.
Officials waited over 90 minutes before deciding that the day/night game could not be finished, leaving a large crowd disappointed.
Sri Lanka had slumped to 44 for three when the 21-year-old Udawatte joined Chamara Kapugedera to share a stand of 84 before the latter was caught and bowled for 40 by skipper Chris Gayle.
Opener Udawatte’s 122-ball knock ended on 73 when he was brilliantly stumped down the leg side by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin off spinner Gayle.
Sri Lanka were then boosted by a typically lively performance from Dilshan, who struck 64 in 54 balls and shared a quickfire partnership of 79 with Kaushalya Weeraratne (41).
West Indies openers Sewnarine Chattergoon (46) and Runako Morton (17) made a decent start but with the game nicely poised.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
K.C. Sangakkara c Sammy b Powell 1
M.L. Udawatte st Ramdin b Gayle 73
M. Jayawardene c Powell b Bravo 17
L.P.C. Silva c Ramdin b Powell 6
C.K. Kapugedera c and b Gayle 40
T.M. Dilshan c Pollard b Bravo 64
K. Weeraratne b Taylor 41
W.P.U.J.C. Vaas not out 2
M.T. Thushara run out 0
EXTRAS (LB-6, W-6, NB-1) 13
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 257
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-37, 3-44, 4-128, 5-172, 6-251, 7-257, 8-257.
DID NOT BAT: K.M.D.N. Kulasekera, B.A.W. Mendis
BOWLING: Taylor 10-1-52-1 (1w); Powell 10-0-50-2 (1nb, 3w); Bravo 10-0-67-2 (1w); Sammy 10-0-41-0 (1w); Gayle 10-0-41-2.
WEST INDIES:
S. Chattergoon c Sangakkara b Vaas 46
R.S. Morton c Sangakkara b Thushara 17
R.R. Sarwan not out 13
M.N. Samuels not out 3
EXTRAS (W-1, NB-1) 2
TOTAL (for two wkts, 18.2 overs) 81
FALL OF WKTS: 1-54, 2-77.
DID NOT BAT: C.H. Gayle, D.J. Bravo, K.A. Pollard, D. Ramdin, D.J.G. Sammy, J.E. Taylor, D.B.L. Powell.
BOWLING: Kulasekera 6-1-33-0 (1nb); Vaas 7-0-36-1; Thushara 5.2-1-12-1 (1w).
RESULT: Match abandoned due to rain (West Indies won three-match series 2-0).
UMPIRES: C.R. Duncan (West Indies) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).
TV UMPIRE: G. Greaves (West Indies).
MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (West Indies).—Reuters
