Sylvester Joseph leads WI to victory

Batting first Kandy XI made 129 for eight from 30 overs in a game reduced by 20 overs as a result of the wet Asgiriya International Stadium outfield. West Indies faltered in the middle, leaving them 69 for five, but eventually got home with 131 for eight from 28.2 overs.

West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul won the toss and offered the Kandy XI first strike and they started on the backfoot - primarily as a result of some searing pace from Tino Best (3/14) and a restrictive line from both Kerry Jeremy (2/24) and Deighton Butler (1/19).

Best’s missiles regularly left the batsmen fending and feeling but Jeremy and Butler, who replaced Best from the northern end, got the first two wickets. Right-handers Arosha Perera (30) and captain Chanaka Wijesinghe (28) then added 50 runs for the third wicket taking the score to 82 before Perera left after his 56-ball knock which included a lone six in the boundaries column.

Runako Morton picked up two wickets with consecutive deliveries with the score on 114. He bowled both Wijesinghe and Kosala Kilasekara with his bustling medium pace.

Best also had a double strike to end the innings. With his last two deliveries, the pacer bowled Duncan Arnolda and PD Ranawaka to top the bowling.

The West Indies were constrained early in their chase by some healthy swing bowling aided by the overcast conditions.

The score laboured to eight for three with Runako Morton (one), who opened the innings, Ryan Ramdass (two) and captain Chanderpaul (duck) all back in the hut.