Back comes the man with the curls, but he's too full and leg-side to start with, enabling both Bravo and Gayle to swap singles with each other. Another full one is speared in, hitting Darren on the ankle for a half-hearted LBW appeal. It was missing leg stump, and Bravo takes the opportunity to loft the bowler over cover to pick up two runs to move to 5; Gayle is on 92 now.
When in doubt...call back Malinga.
Bravo gets his first run after being brought on strike by his partner Gayle, promptly returning the favour. Bang - four more! Gayle drives a full one mercilessly hard, and it goes through the bowler Herath's legs for yet another boundary. That's not enough - the next one is blasted back in the same area, this time for six! The sightscreen is taking a beating, and Herath's three overs have cost 27 so far.
It's easy to hit fours - just ask Chris Gayle! He opens the face of the bat to a very full-pitched delivery and steers it behind point for a boundary off the returning Nuwan Kulasekara. He tries to whip a ball to mid-wicket, but may have damaged his bat in the process; Kula is lucky to get away with a slower cutter angling across the lefty that really should have been called as wide. He does get down to the non-striker's end eventually with a shot to long-off, and uses the chance to swap his bat with a new one brought on by one of the Windies reserve players. Meanwhile, young Darren plays out the rest of the over, still looking to get off the mark.
If you can do it, so can I - that's Johnson Charles' new motto, as he skips out and smacks Herath straight over his head in similar fashion to Gayle's hit in the last over - SIX. He tries his luck again the very next ball by clearing his leg and trying to muscle the ball over cow corner, but the ball goes straight up and it's a straight-forward catch for Mahela Jayawardene. It's the end of a rather battling innings by the man from St. Lucia, and Sri Lanka have their first wicket with the score on 115. Charles goes for 29 from 58. Darren Bravo walks out at number three for the Windies, and negotiates his first ball without fuss. 93 runs still to get.
Charles has decided that backing away to leg to give himself room is the go-to option now, and blasts one away to mid-wicket - only a single this time for that tactic. Gayle calmly helps himself to one, before Charles fakes a move before paddling the ball over to fine-leg - singles all round now, but not for long. It's Gayle who moves away this time, doesn't get hold of it entirely sweetly, but it sails high and long for a six straight over the Mathew's head. Boom! Yet another one for him - he seems to hit sixes like that for fun, really. Expensive over, with eleven runs coming from it.
Defence from the Jamaican/Royal Challenger, before pushing a full carrom ball into the leg-side for a comfortable single. Charles decides to adopt a more aggressive approach, moving to leg to hit through the line and pound a welcome four to long-on over the in-field.
Left-arm spin now, courtesy of Rangana Herath. His side desperately need a breakthrough to get back in this game, with Christopher Henry Gayle taking it away from them with each over he remains at the crease.
Mendis is blocked, before beating the left-handed Gayle from around the wicket with one that pitches on middle and off, turning away. Great delivery! He gets decent bounce as well, does the little Sri Lankan. After a single down to long-off, Charles is hit on the pad again, but the appeal amounts to nothing as it was too high to be given out.
Another four to Chris Gayle, in classic Chris Gayle style. Mathews drops one a little too short, and that was easily boshed over mid-wicket for a one-bouncer. He decides to move outside leg-stump next, lofting the ball over covers to pick up a double. Charles gets a chance after a Gayle slice to the sweeper, but he can't make use of the last two balls from the bowler. The last ball takes off a bit, surprising the batsman who jerks back to let the ball go through to the 'keeper.
This will help - BANG! Charles breaks out, moving his feet and heaving Mendis over the long-on boundary for maximum runs. That will relieve a bit of stress, I'm sure - he attempts another swipe on one knee, but doesn't get the result he was hoping for. A single, and Mendis squirts one down leg to Gayle, who misses an extravagant swipe and they go through for two runs - the end result is three wides for a clearly frustrated bowler..
Chris Gayle makes it look so easy, biffing a single down to long-off, and Charles struggles to get bat on ball for a few deliveries before getting off-strike with the assistance of a leg-bye. Frustration for Mathews, as Gayle gets an inside-edge from a swipe that races away to the vacant fine-leg boundary for four...that's his fifty up too! He raises his bat as the Jamaicans in the crowd cheer vociferously for their hero. How well has he batted today - the job is not yet done though. As fluent as he has been today, Charles has struggled in sharp contrast to his opening partner.
Gayle is looking quite assured at the crease, but poor Johnson Charles is having a tough time out there - his current strike rate is hovering around 18, whereas Gayle's is approaching 110. Big appeal from the Sri Lankans for an LBW off the last ball of the over, and Mendis is visibly upset when it is turned down. The ball hit him in line, and Hawk-Eye shows that it would have hit leg-stump...the umpire's word is final though in this series, I'm afraid. Charle's luck is with him, but he is still battling to find any sort of rhythm out there.
Mathews baits Gayle with a bouncer angling across him, but the batsman pulls out just in time; there are two fielders back on the fence waiting for the miscued hook or pull, so it was a good decision to leave it. Some more overcast clouds are building up around the ground, but we've been lucky so far. Let's hope it stays that way and our friends Duckworth and Lewis don't have to get involved here in Kingston.
Lasith tries a bouncer to keep Gayle honest, and the opener swings at it - mis-timed, top edge and it flies over the keeper's head for six! Well, when things are going your way...wow. That was 144 km per hour, ladies and gentlemen. Malinga follows with a brutal yorker that Gayle does well to somehow, somehow keep out. He follows up with another, but the batsman is wise to his plans and keeps it out a little easier this time. That was quality bowling, and something that has made Malinga famous, especially when he utilizes the block-hole ball in the dying overs.
Johnson Charles is beaten by a slower one from Angelo, failing to connect. He then gets a single to square-leg, and Gayle himself gets a single square on the leg-side to bring up his side's fifty.
The captain, Angelo Mathews, will have a bowl himself.
Malinga is back, striving for the yorker. He attempts a slower-ball version of it, but it goes horribly awry and he is wided for his troubles. Johnson Charles is trying his darnedest to get the ball away, but he is finding the fielders with regularity, even when his timing is as sweet as a giant bag of jelly babies. He finally gets the single, down to long-on once more before Gayle sets the Jamaican flags in the crowd aflutter with a cover-drive. Smooth, cool, four. Ten overs gone now, and the West Indies are sitting pretty at 48/0.
Johnson Charles has also become known for some big hitting of his own, but he seems quite perplexed at the moment when it comes to facing Ajantha. After the fireworks of the last over, Charles can only manage a mis-hit single off the last ball of the over to bring long-on into the game. Well bowled, Mr. Mendis.
Another boundary as Gayle biffs a shorter one over mid-on - four runs despite not timing it perfectly. That's the power of the big man! He dances down the track to Kula and has a vicious swing, but there is beautiful movement away from the batsman and he is lucky that it misses both his edge and the stumps. Peach of a ball from the Sri Lankan, and he and Chris exchange wry grins. It's all excitement now as Gayle swings again and connects hard - that is huge, HUGE folks! Swatted to the leg-side, and that went far back into the stands in front of square on the on-side. Pure power, and we've become so accustomed to the big Jamaican pulling out shots like these for us. As if that wasn't enough: insult, meet injury - six again! Last ball of the over is thwacked over long-off this time. Another massive hit, and you've just got to marvel at the sheer power of the man. Big over for the Windies, and Gayle is very much on the charge!
Bang! There's the Chris Gayle we know: that was a mighty hit, and it traveled high and far over long-on for six. Mendis had kept him quiet for the first half of the over, but Gayle had had enough of that. He pushes one into the covers to take a single, and Charles looks a bit more clueless as the last ball of the over hits his pads.
Some more in-swing for Kula, and Johnson Charles plays with the swing to swat it to mid-wicket - DROPPED! Oh dear...that was a sitter, really shouldn't be dropped at international level, but...in and out. It's the captain, Mathews, as well - heads drop all round. Let-offs like that can prove to be so costly, especially in a fairly low-scoring run chase.
Chris Gaye is adopting the driving approach to the spinner, as Mendis is not shy in pitching the ball up to the bat. He manages to get the bowler away off the fourth ball of the over, tucking one to mid-wicket before Charles helps himself to a single off his pads.
A bold move from Angelo Mathews, as Ajantha Mendis is introduced into the attack. Let's see how he copes with the new, hard ball...
Hello - in-swing for Kula here, and he goes up as it thuds into Johnson Charles' back leg as he tried to flay it away. No luck though, not-out from the umpire. Just a reminder: there is no DRS being used in this series, so he wasn't able to review the decision - it was too high though, so the correct decision was made initially by the umpire. A maiden over though, as Charles can't work the bowler away.
Attempted short ball, and Charles is onto it in a flash, pulling it forcefully down to the fine-leg fielder; his hands must be stinging after fielding that brute! Gayle leans down nicely to a full one from Malinga, and glances it effortlessly. He stayed very well balanced there, and the timing took it to the fence for four more - maybe he's not all brawn and bludgeons, then? The bowler tries to fight back with a slower ball that doesn't bounce much - Gayle leaves it, and it slips under Sanga's gloves to go through his legs for an embarassing four byes. Costly over, this one.
Gayle stands and delivers, timing one nicely through the covers for his first boundary. Eased into that one on the front foot, and Nuwan Kulesekara won't have enjoyed that start to his spell. He squares the big man up with his next delivery, and Gayle manages to parry the ball into the off-side. Good retort, Kula. If there's any swing on offer with these two new white balls, he'll be a good candidate to find it, as Australia can attest to.
First ball, Gayle dabs it into the leg-side and they sprint through for a quick single. Good intent shown by these two! Just a little bit of swing for Malinga in this opening over, which was something we didn't really see much of at all when his side were batting. Charles plays out the over, with nary a wild swing or bludgeon in site. West Indies are on the board though, 1/0.
Welcome back, folks - Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles are on their way out to the middle for the chase. Lasith Malinga is busy setting his field...here we go!
Join us in about half an hour's time for the chase - 50 overs, 209 runs to get for the West Indies at a required rate of 4.18 runs an over. We'll chat to you again shortly - bye for now.
A side packed with hard-hitters and powerful players, the Windies will be confident of chasing down this target with minimal fuss. Hometown hero, Chris Gayle, will be looking to entertain the Kingston locals and if he gets going...well, we could be in for an extremely early finish. Much now rests on the Sri Lankan bowlers striking early, and they do have the deadly Lasith Malinga at their disposal as well.
Sri Lanka will be extremely disappointed with their total of 208, especially after their opening stand of 62 between Tharanga and Jayawardene. Narine was the stand-out for the bowling side with four wickets, but Ravi Rampaul did significant damage during the batting powerplay and helped prevent any sort of acceleration from the tourists.
Bravo strays onto the pads, and Mathews collects one run to the man at deep-square-leg. The bowler is still persisting with his around-the-wicket line of attack, and it pays off as a short one is guided straight to Johnson Charles at slip off the bat face of Ajantha - OUT! That's that, then, as Sri Lanka are bowled out inside their fifty overs for 208 all-out. Second catch of the day for Charles, and it's also the second wicket for his captain, the elder Bravo. Angelo Mathews remains unbeaten on 55 not-out, the highest score in his side's innings.No-one outside the top five in the Sri Lankan batting line-up passed double figures either - the hosts did well to strangle the scoring in the middle of the innings and force some extremely soft dismissals.
Mathews takes the single, and then summons Malinga for a mid-pitch conference about how to handle the guile of Narina. Lasith nods, and then proceeds to clear the front leg and slash the bowler high over cover for a big six! Well, that's how you do it then, eh? The excitement is short-lived, however, as Narina raps the pads with a fizzing delivery - OUT, no hesitation from the umpire to give that LBW. Fourth wicket for Sunil Narine, and Sri Lanka's ninth wicket to fall. Last man, Ajantha Mendis, keeps out the three balls remaining in Narine's quota, scampering two runs past the slip as well. Mathews will have the strike, but Narine has figures of 4 for 40 in his ten overs - another good performance for him in the maroon shirt.
Interesting approach from Bravo as he runs in to bowl around the wicket with both batsmen at the crease being right-handers. Mathews clearly trusts Malinga to be able to handle the pace of Bravo, as he takes a single off the first ball of the over. Malinga gets off-strike immediately, to the visible disappointment of the bowler - he fancies his chances against the tail-ender. Mathews swipes one to leg in the air, but Marlon Samuels on the bounday didn't pick it up early enough and runs in to collect the ball after one bounce.
Well, well - Mathews places one into a gap but declines the single that would put Lasith on strike against Narine. All or nothing, it seems - he defends stoically and finally takes the single off the last ball via a paddle sweep. He retains the strike, but also goes to his half-centruy - it's his 15th for his country in 50-over contests.
Angelo Mathews is one away from a battling fifty. Can he get it off Sunil Narine, exposing Malinga to the strike in the process?
OUT! Another one falls, again to a soft catch. This time it's Rangana Herath's turn, a good length delivery is clubbed tamely to Darren Sammy at mid-off. Catching practice for the West Indies today - they've mostly been dollies. The only blip was the drop at slip by Chris Gayle, but everything else has gone to hand. Lasith Malinga has come out to the centre of Sabina Park, and Ravi Rampaul says hello in the form of a bouncer; Slinga manages to get out of the way in awkward fashion before being hit on the arm from a similar delivery. He was leaning away, taking his eyes off it, and they manage to run a leg-bye as the ball ricochets away into a gap.
Sunil Narine begins his eighth over, bowling to his opposite spin number, Herath. That batsman follows one turning across him, but misses with the prod. He manages to sweep one (as well as keeping it down) for a single. Mathews, now on 48 not out, gets a short, wide one from Narine and throws the bat at it; he can't connect, and throws his head back in frustration at a missed opportunity. Tight, tight over again from the Windies.
Four! Mathews is almost the lone hand now, and pulls one to deep mid-wicket for a boundary that wasn't exactly timed all that well, to be honest. He gets a single to bring his new partner, Rangana Herath, on strike. The little left-hander is well-known for his bowling prowess, but isn't as fear-inspiring with the bat (he has a high score of 17 in ODIs). He, too, goes for the pull and is fortunate when the ball falls short of a diving Kemar Roach - good effort by the fast man. Nine runs in this over though for SL, which is extremely welcome at this late stage of their innings.
Another sweep shot, another top-edge and it loops out to Marlon Samuels at deep mid-wicket who takes a simple catch - another soft wicket, and Mendis just couldn't get going. Sunil Narine picks up his third wicket of the day, and Jeevan Mendis heads back to the hut with only 5 runs to his name. Angelo Mathews sees another batsman come and go, and will really have to grit his teeth and see his side to some semblance of a decent total here. They're in danger of being bowled out inside their allotted fifty overs as well - pretty much a sin in limited-overs cricket.
Ravi (not Bopara) over-pitches one, and Jeevan chooses to swat it to the sweeper for a couple. This is usually the stage of an innings where the team batting first looks to accelerate, but Sri Lanka just can't seem to get out of first gear.
A change of ends for Ravi Rampaul - I'm amazed he can still walk after that ankle-twist halfway through his last over. Ouch. Perhaps he's some sort of cyborg?
Our old friend, the bye, makes an appearance once more - this time it's four of them! Mathews went for the vicious reverse-sweep, and the ball pitched and turned down leg dramatically. Missed everything: bat, pad, keeper! Frustrating for the bowler. There is no sweeper on the off-side, and Mathews rocks back and punches one properly through the covers for four. Much better from the skipper, and Narine's over nets eight runs for Sri Lanka.
Mathews, pull, one run. Jeevan, pull, one run. Slower balls are being used to good effect by the Windies seamers at this stage, and this batting powerplay just hasn't taken off for the Lankans. Bravo manages to beat the edge of a left-hander's bat again from around the wicket; this time it's Mendis who can't lay a bat on the one that holds it's line.
Kula tries to swat Rampaul down the ground but times it terribly, the ball looping harmlessly to the man at mid-on for no run. Not to be discouraged, he goes for a big one again from a ball that maybe wasn't short enough to pull - it was wide of off-stump as well, and the top edge went high in the air down to Pollard at fine-leg, who pouched the catch easily. Not a good shot. Another wicket for Ravi Rampaul, and Sri Lanka are six-down now for 159. The first of two Mendises in the side, Jeevan, walks out to face the music. It's suddenly getting rather dark around the ground here in Kingston; remember, there is a 50 per cent chance of rain forecast today, and some ominous clouds are now lurking. Rampaul thunders in, and he seems to have twisted his ankle in his follow-through - OUCH! That doesn't look good, and the replays don't soften the blow at all. It looks like the medical team are coming on with the stretcher, and may have to take him off - but no, he's up and is going to continue! Well, that looked extremely painful on the replays, but he runs in and finishes his over. Amazing.
Angelo and Kula deal in singles, before some sharp running brings them two from one turned in front of square on the leg-side. Only three fielders are allowed outside the circle during these powerplay overs, and there are currently no fielders in position at fine-leg or third-man. Bravo is making use of the slower ball effectively, and batsmen seem content to work him around rather than going for the big shot this over.
Nuwan Kulasekera is the new man, and he can certainly hit a few. He joins his captain, who is there on 26 from 40 balls.
A wide to start with: welcome back, Ravi! Down the leg-side, and the umpire had no choice. They're especially strict these days are the umpires, particularly in the shorter forms of the game, but that was a fair call. Thirimanne attempts to force the pace, and lofts one high, high over the in-field...but it's not far enough to clear the long-off fielder! OUT! Simple catch, and the dangerous Lahiru Thirimanne falls right at the start of the power-play - Sri Lanka's innings is stuttering like a battered old car. Rampaul celebrates the wicket by pushing another delivery down the leg-side to bring his tally to two for the over,but it's a far-from-ideal start to the batting power-play for the men in blue.
Here's Ravi Rampaul, on an official warning for running on the wicket earlier in the day.
Hello Dwayne Bravo - the captain brings himself on to add to his first spell of three overs. Singles are duly bunted to long-on, sweeper and mid-wicket by Thirimanne and Mathews. Around the wicket, Bravo delivers one that pitches and straightens to beat the left-handed Thirimanne's edge - great ball! Could so easily have been edged on the way through to Ramdin, but alas for the skipper. One of the better balls we've seen so far today in 35 overs here in Kingston.
Bowlers and wicket-keepers hate conceding byes, and we have the first one of the innings now. It proves to be the only run taken from the over, with Thirimanne hogging the strike, unable to get Marlon away for anything off the bat.
Big appeal for caught-behind - low catch to 'keeper Ramdin, and he and a lot of the fielders go up. Nope, no dice. The umpire wasn't interested, and rightly so - that cross-seam delivery whizzed past Thirimanne's outside edge without giving it a kiss. The batsman decides to open up and frees his arms on the next delivery, smacking it airborne over mid-off for a welcome boundary. It wasn't a terrible ball, but a little too full and Thirimanne took his opportunity. His team would love a few more of those kind of shots with the batting powerplay still to come.
Well, no sooner has it been mentioned, and there it is - OUT! Soft wicket, borne entirely out of the drought of runs in the last few overs. Dinesh Chandimal flicks a full off-break to mid-wicket, where Dwayne Bravo takes a very easy catch. Even the normally staid Samuels permits himself a grin. Fourth wicket down for Sri Lanka, and Chandimal departs for 21 from 37 balls. All eyes now are on the captain, Mathews - his team will be relying heavily on him now for guidance and experience in setting their hosts a defendable target.
More miscued shots and slightly off timing from these two at the crease, which is not entirely indicative of the pitch; Jayawardene and Sangakkara showed during their stays in the middle that it is indeed possible to time the ball sweetly on this Sabina Park track. Yet another frugal over from Sammy, and the Windies are strangling the tourists a little bit - is something about to give?
Nice and tight from Marlon Samuels after his first over was taken for a few runs - just a single, and the Windies bowlers are keeping these two young Sri Lankans in check for now. He darts them in fairly quickly compared to Narine, and Mathews couldn't get him away after Chandimal inside-edged a single off the first ball.
Mathews is struggling to time Sammy that well so far, but he manages to bunt one through the covers to collect two runs. It's another miserly over from the tall St. Lucian all-rounder - just those two runs from it.
We'll have Darren Sammy to resume his spell in place of Kemar Roach; he's bowled very economically today.
Samuels trundles in, looking to keep these two batsmen quiet and in-check. A wide down the leg-side is not a great way to start a spell, and Dinesh Chandimal makes it worse by hitting one cleanly straight down the ground - SIX! Perfectly straight, high follow-through and it's the first maximum of the day. Good catch by the sight-screen.
Boundaries off consecutive balls for Kemar Roach, and he throws his hands to his head as Mathews nudges one at his thigh pad off to the fine-leg boundary. He helps one over extra-cover to pick up two runs as well, before keeping out two fuller deliveries that spear in at a rate of knots. Sri Lanka are going at a run-rate of 4.63 per over; they'll have to deal with the spin of Marlon Samuels now.
Narine trots in to see if he can nip out another batsmen with his off-spin wizardry; he's claimed two wickets so far today. Chandimal is on the sweep again, but doesn't get hold of it nearly as well as he'd like as it could have gone to hand at short-fine-leg - still, another single to his total
Chandimal stabs one down to third-man for a single, and Mathews is uncertain as to whether to play forward or backward to Kemar Roach - oh, he's been dropped! Thick edge, it flew straight to the hometown boy Chris Gayle at slip and he put it down. Not a difficult chance by any means, and he is usually pretty reliable is the big Jamaican. Unlucky for Roach, that was a great ball on a good length, and he suffers the ignominy of Mathews then hitting him down the ground for four. Such is life, such is cricket - good, stinging shot from Angelo off the last ball of the over.
Angelo stays back in his crease and rocks back to cut one back-of-a-length from Sunil Narine, that's four runs to the wide third-man boundary! Much better from the captain, and Narine follows up by giving the next one more air - Mathews defends. A deep short-leg has come into place, alongside the leg-slip and orthodox slip, and there are oohs and aahs as Mathews goes back to turn one down past them to fine leg for one.
Roach is pitching his first few deliveries up to Chandimal, before finding that sweet back-of-a-length that can trouble batsmen. Dinesh manages to push one out into the covers for a single, bringing Mathews on strike for the first time, and he nearly stands on his stumps after fending off a short-of-a-length one from Roach behind square on the leg-side! That was close, but he gets off the mark.
Kemar Roach replaces Darren Sammy - pace and fire!
Chandimal turns an off-spinner behind square for one, and Sanga decides to play the bowler off the back-foot. Several punches into the off-side yield no reward before he lofts a drive straight to Kieron Pollard at mid-off for an easy catch. Oh dear, he's thrown it away has the veteran batsman - another wicket for Narine, and that's 17 runs for Sanga today. Some pressure on now, with Sri Lanka's two most-experienced batsmen gone in the space of a few overs; their captain, Angelo Mathews, is next to the crease.
Dinesh pushes forward into the covers, and gets a single for his troubles after flashing at one outside off the ball before; another wicket for the Lankans now would certainly put the West Indies in a better position. Sanga pulls a short one, but it hits high up on the bat and loops over the man at mid-on safely. He then unleashes a superb late-cut off the back foot - wow, that is something, folks! Beautifully timed, and it raced behind point for four, an absolute pleasure to watch that shot!
Narine has decided on two slips for the left-handed Sanga, but the batsman gets off strike immediately with a back-foot punch to mid-wicket. Chandimal gets off the mark with a four, but it comes from a sweep that takes the top edge and flies down to fine-leg. Runs are runs, but its certainly not the most solid way to score your first runs of the day. There are no further alarms, as he and Sanga tot up a few more singles each to close out Narine's second over.
Sanga is the senior partner now, and Sri Lanka's chances of posting a solid total to defend will depend much on his ability to stick around for most of the remaining overs. He slashes one outside off in the air, but it goes safely down to third-man for just a single. Chandimal looks solid, defending well and hitting the middle of the bat, but remains on zero after blocking out into the covers for much of the over. Just a single from that one, and Darren Sammy continues to keep things tight for his captain.
Mahela wastes no time in asserting himself, reverse-sweeping well for four runs to the vacant third-man boundary. That's his fifty, his 70th in ODI cricket can you believe, but his stay is cut short - OUT! He plays forward to a sharply turning ball that takes his inside-edge, balloons up off the pad and he's caught easily by 'keeper Ramdin. Immediate impact from Narine, he's such a consistent wicket-taker for the Windies in limited-overs cricket! Young Dinesh Chandimal strides out, and confidently blocks the spinner to end the over - a good one for the Windies, with Sri Lanka now two wickets down.
Get ready for some spin, Jamaica: it's Sunil Narine to bowl. A slip and leg-slip in place for him.
We're back, and Jayawardene uses his feet but doesn't quite time the ball very well down to long-on, edging closer to his fifty. A cracking cover-drive from Sanga seems destined for the boundary, but Sunil Narine is in the way. That flew off the bat, beautiful sound as impact was made. The batsman skips outside off-stump but can only turn the ball to leg for a single as he didn't quite read the length right. Darren Sammy keeps it tight yet again, and his five overs so far have only gone for 15 runs.
Time for drinks, with Sri Lanka going along well at 78/1 - Dwayne Bravo the sole wicket-taker so far, claiming Upul Tharanga caught-behind for a scrappy 25.
Bravo goes for the yorker but overpitches it slightly, enabling Jayawardene to tuck it away neatly to fine-leg for an easy run. Sanga unfurls another good-looking square-drive, but only gets a single as reward. They're rotating the strike wonderfully without fuss, and punishing the bad ball when it comes along - Mahela flicks a full leg-side ball fine past the short-fine-leg for an easy four. He's approaching his half-century now too, and has rarely looked bothered during this innings.
Quick single, good running from Sanga to rotate the strike immediately as he punches one to mid-on. These two batsmen have batted together numerous times over the years for their country, and their understanding and running between the wickets is usually excellent. Only one slip is in for the new man, and a widish one at that; Mahela comes on strike after trading singles with his partner to find a short-mid-on in position for him. He steers another one down to third-man to close out a solid over for the pair - five singles from it.
WICKET! Tharanga finally falls to a catch behind after a few similar flashes outside off earlier in his innings. Never looked comfortable at the crease, and he's gone now for 25. Good bounce from Bravo, and Ramdin claims an easy catch to bring Kumar Sangakkara out to the middle - two veteran batsmen at the crease for the tourists. Both have been in sublime touch recently, with Sangakkara's recent century against England one of the highlights. The 35-year-old leftie opens his account with a classic off-drive for two, giving the man at deep extra-cover some action.
Sammy is bowling a good length, just a bit too short to drive. He hits Jayawardene on the thigh pad, and they briefly consider dashing through for a cheeky single, but the bowler is up in a flash to scupper their plan. Good intensity from Sammy. They consider another single to a deep mid-off; it's a good thing they didn't go for it, as Dwayne Bravo hits the stumps with his throw after the non-striker had returned to his crease. Good pressure building up from Sammy's overs so far, keeping Mahela quiet.
The captain brings himself on to bowl, replacing Rampaul who was looking out-of-sorts in his last few overs. Some width to start with, and Tharanga times it nicely off the back foot for three runs, as the Windies fielder puts in the slide to tap it back before the rope. This outfield definitely isn't one of the quickest ones we've seen in recent times, even in a rain-soaked England during the recent Champions Trophy. The two Sri Lankan openers trade singles, and Tharanga tries to steer one wide of the slip fielder, but it is stopped after bouncing before him.
Jayawardene uses the first ball of the over to steer one past point for a single, before a diving fielder stops a smart square-drive from the left-handed Tharanga, denying him four. Mahela calmly turns another one off his hip for a single, and they add another single off the last ball of the over as well, courtesy of a half-hearted pull from Upul. Four off the over, and Sammy has been fairly frugal so far.
Ravi continues, and Tharanga flashes at a full one - thick outside edge flies past the lone slip to crash into the advertising boards for four runs. Dwayne Bravo had removed the second slip, and this would have gone straight to him. A sharp single has Kieron Pollard throwing at the striker's-end stumps, but missing. Batsman was home anyway, and we've now had 10 overs here in Jamaica, with Sri Lanka going along nicely at exactly five runs an over so far.
The ball hasn't swung much at all so far for the Windies, but some decent bounce is on offer here as Sammy bowls to Tharanga. The batsman drives one to cover for a single, before Mahela adds to his tally by steering one to third-man for a comfortable run. Quiet first over for the man from St. Lucia - two runs from it.
Surprise surprise, we do see a change now: it's Darren Sammy, the former Windies captain who comes on to bowl.
Rampaul is back, and Upul cuts him strongly off the back foot to wide-third-man, who does very well to haul it in before the boundary - they get two runs. It was Kemar Roach down there doing the fielding, saving his fellow fast-bowler some runs against his name. After a wide outside off, Tharanga helps himself in the same area again, but only gets a single this time. Rampaul seems a little rattled after the warning he received in the last over, and it may be time for Bravo to bring on his first bowling change to try and break this opening partnership.
Ravi Rampaul got a talking-to from the umpire for running on the pitch during the last over he bowled. It's an official warning, and he is getting rather close to the danger area in the middle of the pitch. If he gets another warning, he will not be permitted to bowl in the rest of the innings - Dwayne Bravo will not be happy at all.
A single off the first ball from Mahela brings Tharanga back on strike, and he edges nervously past the third slip that had been brought in especially - four! A miscued pull to ground nets him a single, but Mahela plays the shot of the day so far to a full one. Four more: beautiful, absolutely beautiful from the man, a textbook shot if you ever saw one! The MCC would highly approve, and he seems to be in fantastic touch today in comparison to the rather bemused Tharanga. It might be playing on the bowler's mind as he sends down a full-length ball to Mahela, who claims yet another boundary in this over - this one was an inside-edge past short-fine-leg.
Suddenly, it's raining boundaries here at Sabina Park as Mahela slashes a square-drive to the point fence - four more, and again his timing was superb. A diving point fielder manages to parry the next shot clattered off the back foot, and that would have gone to the boundary too were it not for his effort in getting a hand on it. They go through for a single, but Upul can't work Rampaul away and the over peters out with no further runs added. Captain Bravo won't mind having Tharanga on strike instead, the way Jayawardene is playing at the moment!
Roach steams in with his big gold chain bouncing around his neck, and Jayawardene hits in the air over mid-on but doesn't quite time it as well as he'd have wanted. The ball rolls slowly and doggedly toward the rope, and a sliding fielder can't prevent it from going for four. The batsman times one better off his pads, staying balanced beautifully as it is glanced between mid-on and mid-wicket for a classy boundary. That's Mahela at his best! Wristy, timing, pure class from the veteran batsman.
It's Mahela's turn to look a little scratchy now, as he first inside-edges one into his pads with the ball dropping down near the stumps and then gets a lucky single after a length ball takes off a bit and takes the shoulder of the bat. Luckily for Sri Lanka, the ball flies in the air into a gap behind square. Tharanga plays off the back foot for a single of his own down to third-man, and looks more confident doing so after that boundary in the previous over. A quickly scampered single ends the over as Mahela drops one in front of him, his partner taking off immediately for what is an easy run in the end.
Mahela looking far more solid than his partner so far; he plays forward confidently and angles the bat to steer the ball to a wide-third-man for a single. Roach bends his back and fires in a good short ball to get Tharanga ducking - the umpire signals to the bowler that it's his one short ball for the over. Well-directed! Tharanga responds well though, and smacks a much fuller ball to the point boundary for four. That will give him heart after such a nervous start - the ball was full and slightly wide, and it was duly punished by the left-hander.
Two slips in as Ravi Rampaul runs in, and Mahela gets his team and himself off the mark with three runs courtesy of a wristy shot through mid-wicket. The outfield doesn't seem to be lightning-quick, and the ball slowed up short of the boundary on this occasion. Tharanga then prods nervously outside off again, but manages to withdraw his bat from the line of the ball in time. These two West Indian quicks will be licking their lips, but the batsman survives the over by leaving the next few alone, inside-edging the last delivery into his pads towards mid-wicket.
What a ball first-up from Kemar - that pitched on leg and went across the left-hander beautifully to beat the edge! Tharanga leaves the next ball, but is beaten again outside off-stump with a tentative push. He's exciting the keeper and the slips here, but manages to finally get bat on ball and pat two deliveries down onto the square - maiden over for Roach, and he'll be encouraged by what he saw.
We're all set to go here in Jamaica for the first match in this triangular ODI series; it'll be Kemar Roach to begin proceedings for the West Indies. Comeback kid Upul Tharanga will face the first ball.
Interesting to note that former West Indies legend Jeffrey Dujon reckons he would have batted first on this wicket; with overhead conditions as they are, though, it's not surprising that both teams wanted to bowl first. We'll soon see if it was the right decision or not. Play gets underway shortly in about five minutes or so - thanks for joining us!
For the Windies, former captain Darren Sammy deservedly retains his place after impressing in England, whilst 'keeper Denesh Ramdin returns after his two-match ban to relieve Johnson Charles of the gloves. Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul will head up the pace department for the hosts today, with the beguiling spin of Sunil Narine an extra threat for the Lankan batsmen to deal with.
Despite the threat of rain, the temperature is still pretty warm today: 29 degrees celsius (or 88 degrees fahrenheit, if you'd prefer). On the team front, Upul Tharanga takes up the opener's spot alongside Mahela Jayawardene, and both Mendises will be in action today for Sri Lanka as well. Tillekeratne Dilshan is still nursing the calf injury he picked up in the Champions Trophy semi-final, and will play no part in this tri-series.
West Indies have won the toss and will bowl first here, with a 50% chance of rain looming overhead here at Sabina Park. Dwayne Bravo is hoping the conditions will suit his fast bowlers early on, and Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews admits that he too would have chosen to bowl first given the chance.
Hello and welcome to the opening match of the Celkon Cup in Jamiaca, where the West Indies are taking on Sri Lanka.