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Pallekele: A remarkable partnership between skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara ensured a comprehensive nine-wicket win against West Indies in their ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The win was spearheaded by Jayawardene (65*) who hit an incredible 10 boundaries and 1 six in his inspiring fifty to put the Lankans on course to victory.
After losing Tillakaratne Dilshan early, Jayawardene and Sangakkara (39*) put up a fighting 106-run partnership while chasing a target of 130 runs.
The duo reached the 50-run mark in their partnership in just 35 balls to set their chase on track with a comfortable run-rate.
An early strike from Ravi Rampaul to dismiss Dilshan helped West Indies get their first breakthrough after a wicked outside edge allowed Dilshan to send a simple catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
Earlier, a supreme bowling effort from Sri Lanka helped them restrict West Indies to 129/5.
Marlon Samuels (50) top-scored for West Indies in an effort to revitalize the innings after suffering early setbacks in the form of losing Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles.
Dwayne Bravo (40), who hit four 4s and two 6s, put up an impressive 65-run partnership with Samuels, which came when they lost Charles (12) and Gayle (2) in quick succession.
Spin sensation Ajantha Mendis marked his presence on the match when he bowled Kieron Pollard in comprehensive manner to pile the pressure on West Indies.
Pollard completely failed to read an unimpeachable ball by Ajantha Mendis, which ultimately proved instrumental in sending the West Indian back to the dressing room.
Polllard's wicket came soon after Jeevan Mendis joined the party for the Sri Lankans when he dismissed Dwayne Bravo (40) after he and Marlon Samuels held steady to revive the West Indies innings.
Sri Lanka got their first breakthrough when Ajantha Mendis scalped Charles after a beautiful stumping by Kumar Sangakkara.
Immediately after that, Gayle played a sloppy shot off a Nuwan Kulasekara slower delivery only to find Sangakkara once again who took a decent catch to ensure glory.
West Indies failed to capitalize their powerplay overs as they only managed 20 runs off it and losing two wickets.
Brief scores
West Indies 129 for 5 (Samuels 50, Bravo 40, A Mendis 2-12)
Sri Lanka 130 for 1 (Jayawardene 65*, Sangakkara 39*)
Result Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets
Points Sri Lanka 2, West Indies 0
MOM Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
