Windies secure series

Shivnarine Chanderpaul praises Marlon Samuels on his half-century © Getty Images

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Unbeaten half-centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels guided West Indies to a series-clinching seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a rain-hit second one-day international in Port of Spain.

West Indies were set a victory target of 125 from 25 overs after heavy rain cut short Sri Lanka’s innings when the tourists were labouring on 112 for five from 30.3 overs.

Three hours were lost to the elements and it was decided Sri Lanka’s innings would be halted to allow the hosts a shot at the Duckworth-Lewis revised victory target.

The West Indies’ response started off in dismal fashion as the hosts were reduced to 18 for three inside six overs.

But man-of-the-match Chanderpaul (52) and Samuels (54) combined for an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership to steady the ship and secure West Indies an unassailable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three match series.

Nuwan Kulasekara was unfortunate to finish on the losing side after claiming all three West Indies wickets for just 28 runs, but the day belonged to Chanderpaul and Samuels, who hit a combined total of five sixes as the Sri Lankan attack ran out of ideas.

The Windies’ innings got off to a stuttering start when makeshift opener Dwayne Bravo fell for just two in the third over as Kulasekara removed his leg stump with a delivery that pitched outside off stump and cut in sharply.

And the hosts were rocking before six overs had been played as two wickets fell in the space of four balls.

First Kulasekara claimed his second scalp when Chris Gayle tried to hammer the bowler for four but Weeraratne took a great catch at mid-on to leave West Indies on 15 for two.

And that became 18 for three moments later when Ramnaresh Sarwan was lbw to a Kulasekara delivery that cut in after pitching outside off stump.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul flicks to leg as he helps settles West Indies' nerves © Getty Images

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West Indies finally got a grip on proceedings when Samuels joined Chanderpaul in the centre, the duo completing their 59th and 20th one-day fifties respectively on their way to sealing victory.

Earlier, Mahela Udawatte (14) was the first wicket to fall for Sri Lanka, his skied shot from Jerome Taylor’s slower delivery brilliantly caught by Sewnarine Chattergoon, who did well to read the flight of the ball which was moving wickedly in the air.

Upul Tharanga was out for 40, Taylor taking the catch at third man from Bravo’s delivery.

The rains came in the 24th over and the players were forced from the field as the covers were brought on by ground staff.

When play resumed around an hour later Kumar Sangakkara (28) went cheaply, sweeping Gayle’s full toss to square leg, where Sarwan took an easy catch.

Pace bowler Kaushalya Weeraratne had been promoted up the order, but he fell just one over later for four, driving Darren Sammy’s full-length delivery to Bravo at backward point.

Seven balls later Sri Lanka’s slump continued as Chamara Silva was clean bowled by Gayle for two.