WI victory in Sri Lanka at last!

Defending a modest 50-over score of 226 for seven, the Windies bundled Sri Lanka out for 193 in 47 overs to clinch the first victory in three preliminary league matches after Smith (two for 41) and Banks (two for 24) made the vital breakthrough.

Sri Lanka’s three league wins have assured them a place in Tuesday’s final, but the Windies now have a chance of edging India out for the second slot.

The Windies can secure a slot in the title contest by winning today’s contest against India, which too has one win from three league games.

Four run-outs spoiled the Windies’ chances of posting a huge total, despite half-centuries from skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57) and Sylvester Joseph (58), but Sri Lanka’s batting also floundered after an exciting start.

The departure of openers Sanath Jayasuriya (23) and Upul Tharanga (25) triggered the collapse that gave the Windies their first scent of victory.

Jayasuriya returned to action after an injury-forced absence of two games and came within ten runs of becoming the first Sri Lankan batsman — and only the fourth player in the world — to reach 10,000, but was trapped LBW by pace bowler Deighton Butler.

Jayasuriya, playing in his 336th match, finished on 9,990 runs.

The Windies managed the victory without the leadership of Chanderpaul, whose viral fever forced him to stay in the pavilion during the Sri Lankan innings.

Kumar Sangakkara (7) fell to pace bowler Daren Powell (two for 28) before Smith clean bowled Tharanga (25) and trapped Tillekeratne Dilshan (0) LBW with successive balls to trigger Sri Lanka’s slide.

Banks then dismissed acting skipper Mahela Jayawardene (22) and Upul Chandana (4) to push Sri Lanka into a tight spot at 107 for six.

Jayawardene was leading the side as captain Marvan Atapattu was rested from this match.

Fervez Mehroof (20) was caught by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin off paceman Tino Best, who was later no-balled for bowling a beamer at Russel Arnold.

Arnold scored a defiant 88-ball 59, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He was last man out, clean bowled by part-time spinner Narsingh Deonarine (two for 18).

Earlier, opener Chanderpaul struck eight boundaries from 79 deliveries to post his 35th half-century in one-dayers, and Joseph’s assertive 92-ball knock was his highest in 12 limited-overs internationals.

Chanderpaul and Joseph shared a commanding 72-run, second-wicket partnership from 96 balls after opener Xavier Marshall was run out for eight by a direct hit from Tharanga.

Chanderpaul was caught by Mehroof at point off legspinner Chandana in the 25th over, but Joseph went on to share another half-century partnership with Deonarine, who contributed 21 to their 55-run stand.

Joseph struck one six and four boundaries before being run out in a mix-up with Banks. Banks (33) featured in three run outs, including his own off the penultimate delivery.