Windies running out of puff

West Indies struggled to 85 for three from 25 overs in their Super Eight World Cup game against Sri Lanka at Providence today.

Replying to Sri Lanka’s 303 for five, the hosts lost Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Brian Lara by the 11th over as West Indies struggled to 42-3.

Lasith Malinga removed Gayle (10) caught at mid off while Vaas bowled Bravo (21) and had Lara stumped by Sangakkara for two.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (17) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21) were rebuilding the innings in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 40 off 89 balls.

Vaas shone early on to claim two for 19 from eight overs.

Earlier Sanath Jayasuriya hit his 25th ODI century and his second of this year’s World Cup as Sri Lanka hammered the West Indies bowlers.

Jayasuriya struck 115 off 101 balls with 10 fours and four sixes and shared a third-wicket partnership of 183 with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (82) to put their team in a solid position.

After play was delayed for 45 minutes, West Indies won the toss and opted to field. They had early success when Daren Powell bowled Upul Tharanga (eight) in the sixth over with the score on 18.

Ian Bradshaw then had Sangakkara (seven) caught at the wicket in the ninth over as the West Indies seamers, led by Powell, exploited the overcast conditions.

Powell’s first six overs cost just 13 runs and Jayasuriya and Jayawardene found it difficult to score runs.

Their first 50 runs together took 65 balls but they accelerated the scoring, taking 47 balls to get to the 100 and just 37 balls to 150.

The partnership eventually ended after 180 balls when Powell returned for his second spell and bowled the 37-year-old Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya took some 33 balls to score his first 13 runs but once he moved into gear, the runs came at a furious pace.

He hit Dwayne Smith for 18 runs in one over including three fours and a six, and then followed up with two more boundaries in Chris Gayle’s first over.

He brought up his 50 after 47 balls with seven fours and one six with the 100 coming off just 86 balls.

Jayawardene, who has struggled for most of the tournament, opted for a more cautious approach and battled his way to his 50 after 81 balls with just two boundaries, a four and a six.

He faced 113 balls before he was bowled by Dwayne Bravo with the score 251-4 in the 45th over.

Sri Lanka also lost Chamara Silva (23 from 31 balls) but Tillakaratne Dilshan (39 not out) and Russell Arnold (four) guided them to a total that the West Indies are likely to find difficult to chase.

Powell was the West Indies’ best bowler with two for 38 from his 10 overs.