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Windies clinch series as rain washes out final ODI

Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan beats the throw to West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, right, during the final one-day international match at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

West Indies won the three-match one day international series with Sri Lanka 2-0 after rain washed out the final match at the Beausejour Stadium on Tuesday.

This decider promised much, but delivered a no-result when rain forced an abandonment of the third and final ODI under lights.

In pursuit of a challenging total of 258 for victory in their allocation of 50 overs, West Indies had reached 81 for two from 18.2 overs when the rain swept across the ground.

The ground staff worked tirelessly to mop up, but too much damage had been done from the persistent showers, and the umpires abandoned any ideas of resuming about an hour before the scheduled close.

Left-handed opener Sewnarine Chattergoon had given West Indies early hope. He scored 46 from 53 balls before he was caught behind in the ninth over, but the match was hanging in the balance, when the rain arrived.

The outcome left West Indies as victors after they won the opening ODI last Thursday at Queen’s Park Oval by one wicket, and the rain-affected second ODI on Saturday at the same venue by seven wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis Method.

Earlier, half-centuries from Mahela Udawatte and Tillakeratne Dilshan typified consistent Sri Lanka batting down the order and helped them reach 257 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs.

Udawatte hit five fours and one six in the top score of 73 from 122 balls, and Dilshan struck three fours and one six in 64 from 54 balls, after Sri Lanka were sent in to bat on a hard, easy-paced Beausejour Stadium pitch.

The visitors slumped to 44 for three inside the first 15 overs, when Kumar Sangakkara was caught at cover for one off Daren Powell in the second over, Mahela Jayawardene was caught at short fine leg for 17 off Dwayne Bravo in the 11th over, and Chamara Silva was caught behind off Powell for six in the 12th over.

Udawatte and Dilshan propped up the Sri Lankans with controlled batting, and formed strategic alliances with Chamara Kapugedera and Kaushalya Weeraratne.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle finished with the best figures of two wickets for 41 runs from 10 overs, Daren Powell took two for 50 from 10 overs, and Dwayne Bravo snared two for 67 from 10 overs.
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