Sri Lanka Legends defeated West Indies Legends by five wickets with six balls to spare in the Road Safety World Series in Raipur, India on Friday.
Brian Lara scored a relatively patient 53 and Dwayne Smith, a quick-fire 47 as the West Indies posted 157 for 4 from their 20 overs. The pair put on a 66-run third-wicket stand after William Perkins (19) and Narsingh Deonarine (2) were both run out within the first six overs to leave the West Indies on 38 for 2.
Lara’s half-century came off 49 balls and included eight fours but it was Smith who dominated the partnership scoring his 47 runs from just 27 balls from which he smashed four fours and three sixes before departing with the West Indies 104 for 3 in the 14th over.
Lara remained unbeaten at the end but with the help of Mahendra Nagamootoo (9) and Tino Best, who was unbeaten on 18, took the score to 157.
Chinthanka Jayasinghe, who got Smith’s wicket returned figures of 1-8 from his only over while Tillakaratne Dilshan had figures of 1-28 from his four.
Needing 158 for victory, Sri Lanka benefitted from an opening stand of 45 between Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya when the latter when trapped lbw by Suilemann Benn for 12 in the six over. Benn would get his second wicket in the 12th over when he had Dilshan caught behind for 47 with the score on 92.
His knock came off 37 balls and included eight fours.
Upul Tharanga, who had put together the 47-run stand with Dilshan featured in a 36-run stand with Chamara Silva who made 22 and then 15 with Jayasinghe. He would remain unbeaten on 53 at the end, scoring his runs from just 37 balls and included eight fours as Sri Lanka achieved their target, scoring 160 for 5 from 19 overs.
Tino Best got the wickets of Jayasinghe for seven and Ajantha Mendis for a duck to finish with 2-22 from three overs. Benn had 2-19 from four.