CAPE TOWN, Feb 28: Sri Lanka squandered a golden opportunity to seize the initiative in their vital World Cup match with West Indies on Friday, finishing with a modest 228 for six from 50 overs.

While history favours teams batting first in day-nighters at Newlands, the former world champions had to settle for a relatively ordinary score after a sloppy batting performance that included two run-outs.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored a patient 66 to prop up the innings but did not get the support he needed, with only two other players getting past 30.

West Indies, needing to win to have a real hope of making the Super Six, produced their best performance with the ball since beating South Africa in the opening game of the tournament but were assisted by some poor batting.

Opener Marvan Atapattu (three) was run out in the fourth over of the day when attempting a suicidal single, then Aravinda de Silva, looking in fine form, went the same way after a terrible mix-up with his skipper that saw both batsmen stranded at the same end on the third run.

Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillekeratne shared a second wicket partnership of 85 before Tillekeratne, hitting across the line, was clean bowled by part-time medium pacer Wavell Hinds for 36 when set for a big score.

Jayasuriya, who scored a hundred against New Zealand and an unbeaten half-century century against Bangladesh, put together an uncharacteristically cautious fifty before he threw his wicket away through frustration.

He had a lucky escape on 59 when apparently gloving a catch to wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs only to be given the benefit of the doubt by South African umpire David Orchard. Seven runs later, though, he holed out to Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the deep after a 99-ball knock featuring just four boundaries.

Mahela Jayawardene also had a let-off when he was dropped by Chris Gayle off his own bowling for nine but failed to make the most of his second chance when he spooned a simple catch off Hooper to Ricardo Powell at mid-wicket in the next over.

Sri Lanka slumped to 178 for six when Kumar Sangakkara was caught in the outfield by Brian Lara for 24 before Russel Arnold and Chaminda Vaas helped push the total past 200 with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 50 off 42 deliveries.

Arnold made 34 from 44 balls while Vaas struck three fours in the final few overs to finish on 28 at better than a run a ball.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA: