West Indies were 133 for four in 30 overs against Sri Lanka in their crucial rain-affected one-day international of the tri-nation series at Queen's Park Oval here today.
Chasing a revised target of 230 to win, West Indies were reduced to 31 for four in 8.2 overs but Lendl Simmons (52) and Darren Bravo (46) recovered the innings and kept them in the chase in the rain-reduced 41-over a side game.
Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara played a battling 95-ball unconquered innings of 90, which was studded with six fours and one six, to help Sri Lanka post 219 for eight in the match, which was pushed to the reserve day after persistent rain forced officials to call off the game yesterday.
More From This Section
West Indies' chase was derailed by some good bowling by Sri Lankan bowlers -- especially Angelo Mathews and Shaminda Eranga -- who reduced the hosts to 31 for four in 8.2 overs.
Skipper Mathews stuck the first blow in the 5th over when he had the dangerous Chris Gayle (14) caught at deep point, while pacer Eranga dismissed other opener Johnson Charles (14) and Marlon Samuels (0) in his third over.
Trying to pull one from just outside off, Charles ended up giving a return catch to Eranga, while Samuels was caught by Mahela Jayawardene when he tried to play a back-foot drive and edged it to the slip.
Mathews came back to pick up his second wicket when he trapped newman Devon Smith in front of wicket. However, Simmons and Bravo steadied the innings and kept the hosts in the hunt with some good batting.
Earlier, a series of rain interruptions reduced the game to a 41-over a side affair today but Sangakkara ensured that Sri Lanka have a good score on board as he set the foundation early on and then accelerated in the end, despite losing partners at regular intervals.
For the hosts, besides, Roach (4 for 27), Jason Holder (2 for 50), Marlon Samuels (1 for 48) and Kieron Pollard (1 for 24) also got wickets but they were expensive.
Skipper Angelo Mathews (30) and Lahiru Thirimanne (23) were the other contributors for Sri Lanka.
Yesterday, riding on Roach's two quick wickets, West Indies had reduced Sri Lanka to 60 for three in 19 overs when heavens opened up and interrupted the play. With rain refusing to abate, the play was called off for the day and it was pushed to the reserve day.
