Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2011

One-day internationals (3): Sri Lanka 2, West Indies 0

After the Test series between the sides at the end of 2010 was spoiled by the heaviest rainfall in Sri Lanka for 18 years, the five one-day internationals that were due to follow were postponed until the end of January. Hambantota, a new venue on the south coast, and Colombo's Premadasa Stadium had been earmarked to host all five games but, with the weather hampering World Cup preparations at both grounds, the series was reduced to three matches, all staged at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The weather gods, however, were not quite finished: rain cut short the first game at the halfway stage, and briefly interrupted the second, which Sri Lanka won under the Duckworth/ Lewis system. They then wrapped up the series 2-0 in the only match to reach a natural conclusion.

The break in the tour schedule allowed West Indies to recall the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan following his omission from the Tests: scores of 75, 21 and 51 were a decent retort. Had Chris Gayle reproduced the form that brought him a triple-century in the Galle Test in November, West Indies might have saved the series, but 32 runs in three innings suggested the Sri Lankan bowlers had learned a lesson or two in the meantime. The result left West Indies without a one-day triumph in Asia since their 2-0 win in Bangladesh in 2002-03.

Match reports for

1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (SSC), Jan 31, 2011
Report | Scorecard

2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (SSC), Feb 3, 2011
Report | Scorecard

3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (SSC), Feb 6, 2011
Report | Scorecard