Barath slams ton in abandoned tie

 After West Indies skipper Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat first, the visitors made a respectable 245 for five in the allotted 50 overs before rain came in during the innings break. The steady rain eventually forced match officials to abandon the game.

The West Indian top order failed to get the start they wanted, losing Chris Gayle with the total on six and Darren Bravo at 42.

Gayle (4) edged seamer Nuwan Kulasekara to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara and Bravo was run out after making eight. But Barath (113) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who returned to form with a gritty 75, shared 165-runs between them for the third wicket.
Barath hit eight boundaries and two sixes in 129 balls, while Sarwan’s 100-ball innings included a six and four boundaries.

Barath, playing only his sixth one-dayer, went for big shots after completing his half-century as he swung part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan and seamer Angelo Mathews over mid-wicket for sixes.

The opener reached his hundred in style, driving unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis for his seventh four.

Sri Lanka then had to wait for than 30 overs to get another wicket as Barath and Sarwan batted sensibly.

Lasith Malinga ruined West Indies’ hopes of posting a big score in their batting power play, taking two wickets in three balls as the in-form partners departed in identical fashion -- caught by Chamara Kapugedera at long-on. Malinga finished with three for 51.

Score board

WEST INDIES

Gayle c Sangakkara b Kulasekara    4
Barath c Kapugedera b Malinga    113
Darren Bravo (run out)    8
Sarwan c Kapugedera b Malinga    75
Pollard b Malinga    4
Chanderpaul (not out)    13
Sammy (not out)    21
Extras (LB-2, W-5)    7
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs)    245
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-42, 3-207, 4-207, 5-215.
Bowling: Malinga 10-0-51-3, Kulasekara 10-2-35-1, Mathews 7-0-35-0, Muralitharan 10-0-42-0, Mendis 9-0-50-0, Kapugedera 2-0-11-0, Dilshan 2-0-19-0.