All-rounder Upul Chandana hit a sizzling, career-best 89 off 71 balls to trump West Indies captain Brian Lara's fine century and lead Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory with three balls to spare on Sunday.
The slim Chandana lashed six fours and four sixes to power the visitors to their victory target of 313 for six off 49.3 overs.
Lara's 17th one-day century, a brilliant 116 off 106 deliveries, was the backbone of the West Indies' 312 for four off 50 overs.
Chris Gayle hit a composed 94 off 125 balls while Marlon Samuels (56 not out off 36 balls) powered a late charge that realized 136 runs off the last 11 overs.
But Sri Lanka, with solid contributions from their top order and Chandana's heroics, secured a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka beat the West Indies by 55 runs on Saturday.
Openers Romesh Kaluwitharana (34) and Sanath Jayasuriya (41) laid an excellent platform with an opening stand of 71 in the first 11 overs on Sunday.
But the West Indies regained the initiative at 78 for two when Jayasuriya fell to Marlon Samuels' off-spin and Kaluwitharana was run out by Ricardo Powell's direct hit from square leg.
Captain Marvan Atapattu (47) and left-hander Kumar Sangakkara (31) rebuilt the challenge with a further stand of 75 for the third wicket before they too fell in quick succession.
Atapattu was cut short by Ramnaresh Sarwan's pinpoint throw from the deep as the batsman chased a third run, while Sangakkara swatted Vasbert Drakes to deep square leg.
Again, Sri Lanka's innings was at the crossroads at 192 for four in the 35th over. Enter Chandana, a journeyman in his 104th one-dayer and with only two half centuries to his credit.
The wiry right-hander took a few overs to settle in before he silenced the massive crowd with a number of meaty strokes.
Mahela Jayawardene, struggling for form, was content to play the anchor role and contributed an important 32 off 40 balls as his partner blazed away at the other end.
Chandana reached his half century off 47 balls and soon rode his luck as his third six just fell out of Wavell Hinds' grasp over the boundary at midwicket.
The 22-year-old Samuels, who completed his half century off 30 deliveries, smacked six fours and a six.
Sri Lanka's victory target matched their best run chase in one-dayers, the 313 for seven to beat Zimbabwe in New Plymouth in 1992.
RSS