Sri Lanka won a dramatic Cricket World Cup game against the West Indies by 6 runs on Friday at Newlands, in spite of a brave onslaught by the injured Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Sri Lanka scored 228/6 and the West Indies replied with 222/9. The result means that the West Indies are virtually out of the Super Six phase of the World Cup with 10 points after five games.
The Sri Lankans are virtually assured of a place in the Super Six phase, with 16 points after five games and play South Africa on Monday in Durban in a crucial match that could decide Shaun Pollock and his troops’ fate in this tournament.
Sarwan was hit on the head by a vicious bouncer from the Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Fernando when he had 10 runs. He had to retire hurt and was taken off the field on a stretcher after the second ball of the Dilhara-over (the fifteenth of the West Indies innings) hit him on the side of the head.
A precautionary X-ray at Claremont Private Hospital showed no major damage. He received a stitch to the head because of a cut and returned to the playing field at 169/7.
Sarwan then produced a swashbuckling innings and hammered Aravinda de Silva for 13 runs in the 48th over. The 22-year old scored 47 (66m, 44b, 4×4, 2×6) but was unable to reproduce those punishing drives in the final over when 14 runs
were needed for a win.
The Windies were robbed of a win by the brilliant bowling of the swing bowler Chaminda Vaas, who took 4/22 in 10 overs, and the off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 1/26 in ten overs.
Vaas dismissed Wavell Hinds (2) and Brian Lara (1) in his first spell and returned in the 26th over when the dangerous Chris Gayle looked in ominous form. He removed Gayle (55) and Ridley Jacobs (0) in the space of 3 balls.
In the next over Muralitharan removed Ricardo Powell (1) and the Sri Lankans had swung back the momentum from 121/3 to 122/6. Chanderpaul (65) departed the scene at 169/7 bringing an inspired Sarwan to the wicket who then took the fight to the Sri Lankans.
De Silva was distraught when Marvan Atapattu dropped Sarwan on the square leg boundary with the batsman on 37. Earlier, the Sri Lankans scored 228/6 in their 50 overs. It was thanks to a stylish 34 (44b, 1×4) by Russel Arnold and an aggressive 28 (26b, 3×4) by Vaas, who contributed an undefeated 50 off 45 deliveries for the unbroken seventh wicket.
The West Indies attack was carried by Mervyn Dillon and Vasbert Drakes, who seldom strayed off line. Dillon (0/30 in 10 overs) and Drakes (1/32) received admirable support from the part time spinner Gayle (1/42 in ten overs).
Vaas is the leading wicket taker in the Cricket World Cup, with sixteen wickets. – Sapa