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Windies beat Lanka in Sharjah opener

Jimmy Adams made an unbeaten 74 as the West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in the opening encounter of the three-nation Coca Cola Trophy Cricket tournament in Sharjah last night.

The West Indies first restricted the Sri Lankans to 178 for eight in 49.3 overs and then romped home to victory by making 181 for seven in 49.2 overs.

Adams, who was chosen man of the match, was engaged in a match- winning partnership of 49 runs for the sixth wicket with Nemiah Perry, who made 21 off 28 balls.

Earlier, the Sri Lankans gave the West Indians some anxious moments as skipper Brian Lara departed without scoring, caught behind by Rumesh Kaluwitharna off Chaminda Vaas off the third ball of the innings.

Sherwin Campbell, the other opener, also did not last long. He left in the third over, hitting the wicket off a Vaas delivery. The West Indians were four for two at that stage.

The left-handed Adams, who came in at the fall of Lara's wicket, added 48 runs with Hinds (35) for the third wicket before the latter was caught by Aravinda De Silva off Muthiah Muralitharan.

Shivnaraine Chanderpaul was the next to go, caught by Marvan Atapattu after he and Adams had put on 38 runs for the fourth wicket.

Ricardo Powell, the new batsman, seemed in a belligerent mood as he lifted De Dilva for a huge six over long-on and followed it up with a four off Russel Arnold.

Sri Lankan skipper Ssanath Jayasuriya brought on Muralitharan, who deceived Powell with one that came in and bowled him after the batsman had made 15.

Ridley Jacobs was run out by a direct throw from Jayasuriya before he could score.

Perry gave Adams solid support before he was caught by Jayasuriya off Arnold. The West Indians were 164 for seven at the end of the 46th over.

Adams and Maclean (3 n.o.) steered the side past the target without any further loss.

Vaas ended up with two wickets for 22 while Muralitharan took two for 24.

Earlier, the Sri Lankans, deciding to bat first, ran into a superb spell by Curtly Ambrose.

The West Indian bowler gave away just five runs in his ten overs and claimed the prize wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya in his inspired effort.

Right from the start, Ambrose kept the free-stroking Jayasuriya in check before having him caught behind in his final over.

Jayasuriya, who began with a spectacular six over cover off Nixon Mclean, made 28 off 52 balls.

The Sri Lankans struggled throughout and managed to put up only 90 for two in the first 30 overs. They then suffered a middle order collapse during which they lost four wickets for just 28 runs.

The damage was done by part-time bowler Jimmy Adams and Sherwin Campbell, whose gentle medium pace was shrewdly employed by Brian Lara.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka:
Marvan Atapattu c Powell b Dillon 10
Sanath Jayasuriya c Jacobs b Ambrose 28
Aravinda De Silva c Jacobs b Campbell 27
Russel Arnold b Campbell 20
Mahela Jayawardene run out (Chanderpaul) 10
Chamara Silva c Jacobs b Adams 4
Rumesh Kaluwitharna b Maclean 36
Chaminda Vaas c Powell b Perry 11
Promodya Wickremasinghe not out 4
Nuwan Zoysa run out (Powell) 6
Muthiah Muralitharan b Maclean 0
Extras (6lb, 1nb, 15w): 22
Total (all out in 49.3 overs): 178
Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-55, 3-90, 4-104, 5-110, 6-118, 7-162, 8-165, 9-178
Bowling: Maclean 8.3-1-40-2 (3w); Ambrose 10-6-5-1; Dillon 7-0-23-1 (2w); Perry 6-0-29-1 (2w); Adams 10-1-23-1; Campbell 8-0-52-2 (1nb, 8w).

West Indies
Shervin Campbell hit wicket b Vaas 1
Brian Lara c Kaluwitharna b Vaas 0
Jimmy Adams not out 74
W Hinds c De Silva b Muralitharan 35
Shivnaraine Chanderpaul c Atapattu b De Silva 22
Ricardo Powell b Muralitharan 15
Ridley Jacobs run out (Jayasuriya) 0
Nemiah Perry c Jayasuriya b Arnold 21
N Maclean not out 3
Extras (1b, 4lb, 1nb, 4w): 10
Total (for seven wkts in 49.2 overs): 181
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-4, 3-52, 4-90, 5-114, 6-115, 7-164
Bowling Vaas 9-2-22-2 (1nb); Zoysa 6.2-1-24-0; Wickremasinghe 6-0-26-0; Muralitharan 10-1-24-2 (1w); Arnold 10-1-36-1; De Silva 6-0-28-1; Jayawardene 1-0-7-0; Jayasuriya 1-0-9-0 (3w).
Result: West Indies won by three wickets
Man of the match: Jimmy Adams (West Indies)