Sri Lanka beat Windies by 9 wickets

MUMBAI, Oct 3: Farveez Maharoof claimed career-best haul of six for 14 as Sri Lanka beat West Indies convincingly in the 14th over of the final qualifying match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Brabourne Stadium here on Saturday. The seam bowler was adjudged the Man of the Match award.

Sri Lanka will join South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand in group B. West Indies faces world champions Australia, England and hosts India in group A.

Chasing an easy target of 81-run, Sri Lanka scored 83 for the loss of one wicket. Sanath Jayasuriya remained unbeaten on 45 in 47 balls with nine boundaries and skipper Mahela Jaywardene made 34 not out.

West Indies suffered a batting collapse and crashed out to 80 all out in 30.4 overs. Farveez Maharoof, who ripped through the middle and lower order to finish with career-best figure of 6 for 14, his best in an ODI and the best figures in a Champions Trophy match. Maharoof's previous personal best figures were four for 20 against India in Ahmadabad last year.

On Friday, West Indies captain Brian Lara said his team was capable of winning the Champions Trophy and was building up a winning momentum towards it.

Wavell Hinds was the top-scorer with 28 in 86 balls with three boundaries, and was ninth out.

The Windies total was the third-lowest in the tournament behind USA's 65 against Australia in 2004 and Bangladesh's 77 against the Black Caps in 2002.

It was also the lowest total so far, falling below the 85 all out scored by Zimbabwe, against the West Indies and is also the worst the Caribbean have performed in ODIs against Sri Lanka.

The defending champions, forced to play the qualifying round after they were out of the top six in the ICC rankings as on April 1 this year.

The Caribbean wickets fell like proverbial nine pins as they lost Dwayne Bravo's wicket in the 16.2 over. It was the fifth wicket of WI innings. The title holders West Indies registered four ducks in the innings.

In the 15th over of the game, Farveez Maharoof delivered a huge blow to the West Indies as he trapped Brian Lara LBW for just 13. Lara's departure opened up the floodgates that saw Maharoof remove Bravo and Smith for ducks, Marlon Samuels (1) and Carlton Baugh (1).

Sri Lanka made first bowling change bringing in Dilhara Fernando after 11 overs.

Lasith Malinga, who had a wayward first over giving away 12 runs, picked up a wicket with the first ball of his second over as he had Shivnaraine Chanderpaul caught behind by Sangakkara for eight.

Chaminda Vaas made a strong claim to become a leading new ball operator and seamer in the world by claiming the wickets of Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan in first and third over respectively. The left-hand Windies opener was caught by Kumar Sangakkara for naught in the first over.

It was a lethal spell of fast bowling. When Chaminda Vaas took the first West Indies wicket - Chirs Gayle - with the fourth ball of Saturday's One-Day International, no-one had any idea what was to follow.

Vaas grabbed his second wicket with the first ball of his next over trapping Ramnaresh Sarwan leg before for a duck, too.

The Sri Lankan fast bowler took two quick wickets to leave West Indies reeling at 12 for two in 2.1 over. However, Vaas was not perfect - he bowled four no balls! But his hard work, dedication and immense talent have all paid off in a game of no real consequence.

For Saturday's match, West Indies made two changes. Ian Bradshaw and Jerome Taylor made way for Dwayne Smith and Fidel Edwards.

Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in the experienced Chaminda Vaas in place of Ruchira Perera