(AP) - Chaminda Vaas captured five wickets for 61 runs to lead Sri Lanka to an historic first win in the Caribbean; defeating West Indies by 121 runs with 6.4 over’s left in the opening test on Wednesday.
Resuming on 96 for one and needing 437 for victory, West Indies tried holding out for a draw and was bowled for 315 at Providence Stadium. World-class off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who bowled for most of the final day helped in with three for 112.
In a tense final hour Vaas bagged both final wickets with the new ball. He forced Jerome Taylor to edge a delivery to second slip, then four overs later and about 15 minutes from stumps, he got Daren Powell to loft to mid-off where Muralitharan grasped a stunning, one-handed catch over his head to provide Vaas with his 12th five-wicket hauls in tests.
Vaas, named man of the match, took 8-109 overall and scored a half century. Sri Lanka lost 1-0 on both previous visits to the Caribbean in 1997 and 2003.
for way the West Indies team played in their 4 super eight matches. Maybe now the West Indies Cricket Board of selectors will consider giving cricketers from the smaller islands. The recently Stanford 20/20 tournament was the perfect opportunity to recognize all new talent around. I mean;when you are trying something for so long that is not working, don’t you think is time to start something new?
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