Windies 75th birthday victory

KINGSTON: Captain Brian Lara and his deputy Ramnaresh Sarwan blazed the West Indies to a convincing seven-wicket victory yesterday over Sri Lanka following a seven-wicket haul by Corey Collymore. The West Indies won the two-match Cable & Wireless series 1-0 just after tea on the third day of the decisive second cricket Test at Sabina Park. The two sides played to a draw in St Lucia last week. Left-hander Lara spanked nine fours and a six in an unbeaten 80 in 132 minutes. Sarwan decorated his superb 82 with 13 fours and a six off 110 deliveries in three hours, but was out with just one run needed. The pair added 161 for the third wicket in two hours after the home team slipped to 50 for two in pursuit of a target of 212. Fast bowler Collymore earlier laid the platform for the victory with a career-best seven for 57, which floored the visitors. Sri Lanka, resuming at 129 for five, was bowled out for 194 just before lunch. Collymore gained a crucial breakthrough in his second over as Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne (seven) played all around one to be bowled comprehensively at 138 for six. All-rounders Kumar Dharmasena and Chaminda Vaas shared an enterprising stand of 35 for the seventh wicket to boost the Sri Lankan effort. But Collymore switched ends and was rewarded with immediate success.
 
Running in with the Blue Mountains at his back, the Barbadian induced an edge from Dharmasena which was snapped up by Lara at first slip. Dharmasena hit three fours in an important 20 off 40 balls. Three balls later, Collymore also claimed the dangerous Vaas for 21 off just 15 deliveries with four boundaries. This time, Lara dived forward at slip to pouch an excellent, low catch. The 25-year-old Collymore, in only his third Test, soon wiped away the rest of the lower order. Muttiah Muralitharan (six) spooned a catch to mid-on and Thilina Thushara (13) gave Lara a third catch at slip. Collymore’s figures, following his five-wicket haul in the first Test in St Lucia, were the best at Sabina Park by a West Indian. He earned both “Man of the Match” and “Man of the Series” honours. Vaas silenced a crowd of 10,000 with an early strike to claim Chris Gayle leg before for a duck early in the West Indies’ chase. Wavell Hinds and Sarwan revived the innings in a stand of 49 for the second wicket before Muralitharan arrived to further stall the home team’s progress. Left-hander Hinds was bowled for 29 as he tried to smack the ace off-spinner through the leg side. But the 34-year-old Lara joined his 23-year-old vice-captain and slowly tilted the balance back in their favor. They took tea at 120 for two and simply exploded after the break with a volley of boundaries. The pair smacked 92 runs off just 11.4 overs as the ground erupted with flag-waving fans and reggae music blaring from sound systems. Lara was dropped at long leg by Kumar Dharmasena when 61 off a top-edged hook from Vaas. But, by then, the result was hardly in doubt. Sarwan had the chance to hit the winning runs but slashed a catch to cover of Vaas with one needed. Lara then fittingly sealed the victory with a single off his great opponent Muralitharan, who took one for 48.                         

Scoreboard
WEST INDIES vs SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka 1st inns: 208
West Indies 1st inns: 191
Sri Lanka 2nd inns:
(Overnight 129/5)
M Atapattu c Jacobs b Taylor 28
S Jayasuriya LBW b Collymore 13
K Sangakkara c Jacobs b Collymore 12
M Jayawardene c Jacobs b Edwards 32
R Kaluwitharana b Taylor 23
H Tillakaratne b Collymore 7
K Dharmasena c Lara b Collymore 20
C Vaas c Lara b Collymore 21
T Thushara c Lara b Collymore 13
M Muralitharan c Sarwan b Collymore 6
P Nissanka not out 0
EXTRAS (B4, LB6, W2, NB7) 19
Total 194
Fall of wickets: 25; 43; 80; 118; 118; 138; 173; 176; 184; 194.
BOWLING: Edwards 15-2-54-1 (NB1, W1); Collymore 16-2-57-7 (NB3); Drakes 11-3-29-0 (NB3, W1); Taylor 10-1-38-2; Banks 2-0-6-0.

West Indies 2nd inns:
C Gayle LBW b Vaas 0
W Hinds b Muralitharan 29
R Sarwan c Jayasuriya b Vaas 82
B Lara not out 80
M Samuels not out 0
EXTRAS (B8, LB3, W4, NB6) 21
Total for three wickets 212
DID NOT BAT: R Jacobs, O Banks, V Drakes, J Taylor, F Edwards, C Collymore.
Fall of wickets: 1; 50; 211.
BOWLING: Vaas 12-2-54-2 (NB4); Thushara 5-0-23-0 (W4); Nissanka 8-1-64-0; Muralitharan 15.4-1-48-1 (NB2); Dharmasena 2-0-12-0.
Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets.
Series: West Indies wins the two-Test series 1-0.
Man of the Match and Man of the Series: Corey Collymore.