West Indies’ Adrian Barath cracked a maiden century before the first one-day international against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to heavy rain in Colombo yesterday.
The 20-year-old opener limbered up for the World Cup with an impressive 113, which included two sixes and eight fours, to help the West Indies post a competitive 245-5.
However, a downpour during the interval drenched the Sinhalese Sports Club and prevented Sri Lanka from coming out to bat.
Barath stabilized the innings after the tourists lost two wickets for 42 runs, including that of hard-hitting Chris Gayle, adding 165 for the third wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who hit a solid 75.
The West Indies were well set for a final onslaught after reaching 206-2 in 43 overs but fast bowler Lasith Malinga (3-51) restricted the tourists with three quick wickets, including those of Sarwan and Barath in the same over.
The West Indies made a poor start after winning the toss as Gayle (four) was caught behind off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara in the day’s fourth over. Darren Bravo did not last long either, making eight before being run out.
Barath, playing only his sixth one-dayer, went for big shots after completing his half-century as he hauled part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan and seamer Angelo Mathews over mid-wicket for sixes.
Sri Lanka had to wait for more than 30 overs to claim another wicket as Barath and Sarwan dug in.
Malinga broke the stand when he had Sarwan caught by Chamara Kapugedera at long-on after the batsman had hit one six and four boundaries in his 100-ball knock. The same combination accounted for Barath a ball later.
WORLD CUP
Reuters, NEW DELHI
Bangalore will host India’s World Cup clash with England on Feb. 27 after the tie was shifted out of Kolkata’s under-prepared Eden Gardens last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed yesterday.
The governing body also announced that an inspection team would visit Kolkata to assess the venue’s readiness for three other matches scheduled there.
The Indian cricket board on Sunday named Bangalore as the alternative venue for the match after an ICC inspection team ruled out Eden Gardens on Thursday, finding it under-prepared because of a delay in renovation work.
“This decision now clarifies and gives us certainty over the fixture,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in the statement.
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