West Indies lose series

COLOMBO – The West Indies sank to another humbling defeat here yesterday in the second One-Day International (ODI) as Sri Lanka wrapped up the series with one match to play.

As negative vibes continued to envelop the Caribbean game, there was little positive to take from this eight-wicket hammering at the hands of the ascending hosts at Premadasa Stadium.

Opener Johnson Charles’ typically forthright 83 off 70 balls and stand-in captain Marlon Samuels’ 63 off 61 anchored a total of 214 all out off 37.4 overs, divided into two parts due to more evening rain.

Sri Lanka’s Duckworth-Lewis target was a challenging 225 off 38, but they coasted home with nine balls to spare on the back of left-handers Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne.

Perera, the pocket-rocket Sanath Jayasuriya clone, blasted 99 off 92 balls before, beset by cramp, he fell agonisingly short of a third ODI ton in his 50th match. (CC)

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