In pursuit of 209 runs, West Indies were going strong at 48 for no loss in 10 overs against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Tri-nation One-Day series here today.
Chris Gayle was batting on 37 off 30 balls while Johnson Charles was giving him company on five. Gayle was looking ominous having hit four fours and three sixes already.
The visitors needed another 161 runs to win in 40 overs and with all wickets intact.
Earlier, West Indies rode on Sunil Narine's four-wicket haul to bowl out Sri Lanka for 208 despite skipper Angelo Mathews' battling, unbeaten half-century.
Mathews scored 55 off 77 balls to help Sri Lanka put up a 200-plus total after Mahela Jayawardene's (52 off 52 balls) early enterprise at the Sabina Park.
Spinner Narine was the wrecker in chief for the hosts, returning impressive figures of 4/40 in 10 overs, as Sri Lnaka were bundled out in 48.3 overs.
Narine was well supported by Ravi Rampaul, who finished with 3/38, after West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo opted to bowl on winning the toss on overcast conditions.
Narine picked up two wickets to put the brakes on Lanka's scoring after Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga got them off to a steady start putting on 62 runs for the first wicket in just over 13 overs.
Pacer Rampaul then came back for his second spell to remove Lahiru Thirimanne and Nuwan Kulasekara as Sri Lanka slumped to 159 for six in the 38th over.
Earlier, Jayawardene hit seven boundaries during his run-a-ball knock, while Mathews found the fence five times.
After being sent into bat, Tharanga had made 25 off 43 balls before Bravo had him caught behind with a short of a length delivery that angled across the left-hander in the 14th over of the innings.
The experienced Kumar Sangakkara got the start but could not capitalise as he was sent back by Narine for 17 off 23 balls. But his long-time teammate Jayawardene looked solid.
