Mendis, Perera fire SL to win

COLOMBO: Ajantha Mendis and Thisara Perera shared seven wickets as Sri Lanka clinched a 26-run win over the West Indies in the third One-Day International (ODI) to seal the series 2-0. Sri Lanka defended their total of 277 for nine, restricting the tourists to 251.

Perera strengthened his team’s position when he removed well-set Darren Bravo (79) and captain Darren Sammy (three) in the space of five balls. Mendis took the last three wickets to complete the win, depriving Baugh (49) of his maiden half-century in ODIs.

West Indies wobbled after Sarwan’s dismissal as they lost four wickets, including those of Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Earlier, man-of-the-match Sangakkara made a solid 75 to help his side set a challenging target despite Sulieman Benn’s maiden four-wicket haul which reduced Sri Lanka to 244 for eight from a healthy 205 for three.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2011.