West Indies beat Sri Lanka

West Indies completed their Champions Trophy preparations with a 17-run win over Sri Lanka in a warm-up match at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Both sets of batsmen spent time in the middle, with West Indies making 297 for six before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 280.

Dwayne Bravo (71), Johnson Charles (58) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (55) provided the bulk of the West Indies’ runs, while Kumar Sangakkara (56) top-scored for Sri Lanka.

Heading into the closing stages all three results were still possible but the match turned when West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo took two late wickets.

Earlier, Charles proved there was more to his opening role than just keeping Gayle company, outscoring the celebrated big-hitter in a first-wicket stand of 87.

West Indies were then indebted to a stand of 126 between Bravo and Sarwan, both of whom retired to give their team-mates time at the crease, with Kieron Pollard smashing a quickfire 29 not out.

Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 39 before both exiting in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara together at the crease.

Jayawardene managed 29 and Sangakkara reached his fifty before becoming Bravo’s first wicket.

Spinner Sunil Narine saw off Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews for single-figure scores before tail-enders Nuwan Kulasekara (40) and Dilhara Lokuhettige (42) got Sri Lanka back on track only for Bravo’s double to seal victory for the West Indies, the reigning World Twenty20 champions.

West Indies begin the Champions Trophy proper against Pakistan at The Oval on Friday with Sri Lanka’s first match of the tournament against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Sunday.

jdg/pi