Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot during their Twenty20 World Cup Super 8 cricket match against West Indies in Pallekele September 29, 2012.DINUKA LIYANAWATTE/Reuters
Captain Mahela Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 65 to lead Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their World Twenty20 Super Eight match at Pallekele on Saturday.
Jayawardene made little of the West Indies total of 129 for five, as he hit 10 fours and a six in his 49-ball innings which earned him the man-of-the-match award.
The Sri Lanka skipper and Kumar Sangakkara (39 not out), figured in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 108 off 75 balls to surpass the West Indies total with 28 balls to spare.
"We had a good game plan and we got it about 90 per cent right," said Jayawardene.
"All the bowlers bowled to our plans and we could put pressure on them.
"There was not much of a pressure for batsmen. We needed to play with wickets in hand.
"Dilshan gave us a good start and Kumar played well and we finished the game well," he added.
Also on Saturday, Steven Finn took 3-16 and Luke Wright notched an aggressive 76 to help England beat New Zealand by six wickets in the Super Eights group one match in the World Twenty20 here on Saturday.
Wright smashed five sixes and as many boundaries off 43 balls and added 89 for the third wicket with Eoin Morgan (30) as England comfortably chased down a modest target of 149 in 18.5 overs at Pallekele stadium.
Wright and Morgan, who hit a four and a six, made sure the defending champions cross the line after losing openers Craig Kieswetter (four) and Alex Hales (22) by the seventh over.
West Indies struggled against spin and their total was never competitive enough to give their bowlers any chance against a strong Lankan batting line up on a slow turning pitch.
Ajantha Mendis bowled a tantalizing line and length to bamboozle the West Indies batting, taking two wickets for 12 runs.
The three Sri Lankans spinners used - Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis and Rangana Herath - conceded only 40 runs in eight overs.
West Indies were restricted to 20 runs in the first six overs of power play, the lowest in the tournament so far.
However, the key wicket of Chris Gayle was picked up Nuwan Kulasekara who had him caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara for two chasing at a wide ball.
Marlon Samuels top scored for West Indies with 50 off 35 balls which included two sixes and four fours. He and Dwayne Bravo (40) added 65 for the third wicket off 56 balls.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy conceded his team did not adapt to the Sri Lankan conditions quickly enough.
"The pitch did suit Sri Lanka but we're playing international cricket and when we're in Sri Lanka we expect the pitches to turn. It's nothing new to us. I just think we didn't adapt quickly enough," said Sammy.
"When we won the toss and batted first we backed ourselves to put a good total on the board but Sri Lanka bowled really well today and restricted us."
Tournament hosts Sri Lanka play defending champions England in their final Super Eight match on Monday and West Indies meet New Zealand on the same day.