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Windies flop on first outing
By Marlon Fernandopulle
West Indies were given an indication of things to come as they were sent crashing to 110 all out against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI on the first day of the two day warm up game at the NCC grounds yesterday.

Their problems were further compounded when the SLC eleven finished the day on 152 for the loss of one wicket by the close. Skipper Marvan Atapattu’s decision to send the visitors in paid off instantly. In the fourth over opener Ryan Ramdass was run out without troubling the scores. His partner was caught by Kumar Sangakkara in the slips when he edged a delivery from Pradeep Jayaprakashtharan as the visitors slipped to 10 for 2 wickets.

Runako Morton and Sylvester Joseph appeared to have got the measure of the Lankan bowlers as they cautiously began to rebuild the visitors innings. However with the introduction of left arm leg spinner Rangana Herath, Morton was adjudged lbw for 17.At 40 for 3 wickets and the arrival of skipper Chanderpaul to the crease the visitors were looking to consolidate their position. But with skipper Atapattu bringing his bowling changes the visitors were never given the opportunity settle down.

Despite having their backs to the wall and needing to put their heads down and bat the visitors looked more flamboyant in their approach and paid a heavy price. They lost the crucial scalps of Sylvester Joseph (17) and Dwayne Smith (00) in quick succession and went into lunch at 67 for 5 wickets with an unbeaten Chanderpaul remaining as their only hope to reach a respectable total.

Immediately after lunch Sri Lanka tightened their grip with the wicket of Chanderpaul for 15.The rest of the West Indies batsmen had no answer to the leg spin of Rangana Herath(3/23) and Kaushal Lokkuarachchi(3/15) who both bowled in tandem to mesmerize the visitors as they crashed to 110 all out in just 51 overs.

Sri Lanka Cricket Eleven openers Marvan Atapattu and Upul Tharanga gave the visitors a lesson or two as they batted with increasing confidence against the Windies attack which was hostile at times but lacked the required accuracy and sting. Atapattu who is coming out of a back injury received a full blooded blow on his helmet from Tino Best in the first over but recovered well to attack by driving and cutting in his own inimitable style.Young Upul Tharanga playing on his own home ground matched his senior partner and picked the occasional boundary as he began growing in confidence.

Chanderpaul turned to off spinner Omari Banks in the 12th over in desperation, but the Lankan openers continued in the same vein.Although Atapattu was in two minds at times to Banks, he later got the measure of the bowler and played with increasing confidence.As the Lankan openers threatened to take the Windies apart reaching 96 for no loss Upul Tharanga was adjudged lbw for a well compiled 41.Atapattu eventually reached his 50 in 84 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries. The Lanka skipper who showed no signs of back pain stroked a dozen boundaries to remain unbeaten on 78 while Kumar Sangakkara remained undefeated on 25.The pair have already added 56 runs for the second wicket.

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