Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st ODI washed out

Colombo, January 31 (AP) The first one-day internationalbetween Sri Lanka and West Indies was abandoned because ofrain at Sinhalese Sports Club here today.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and electedto bat first and his team made 245-5 in 50 overs before rainstarted during the innings break. The steady rain eventuallyforced match officials to abandon the game.

The West Indies top order failed to get the start theywanted, losing Chris Gayle with the total on six and DarrenBravo at 42.

Gayle (4) edged seamer Nuwan Kulasekara to wicketkeeperKumar Sangakkara and Bravo was run out after making eight.

But Barath (113) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who returned toform with 75, shared 165-runs for the third wicket.

Barath hit eight boundaries and two sixes in 129 balls,while Sarwan''s 100-ball innings included a six and fourboundaries.

Lasith Malinga ruined the West Indies'' hopes of a bigscore in their batting power play, taking two wickets in threeballs as the in-form partners departed in identical fashion _caught by Chamara Kapugedera at long-on.

Malinga finished with 3-51 to restrict the visitors to ascore which could have been chased down if not for rain.

West Indies returned to Sri Lanka to complete alimited-overs series after a scheduled five-match series waswashed out in December. Much of the drawn three-match testseries was also lost to rain. (AP) AH