Kingston (Jamaica), June 30: Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan built on fast bowler Corey Collymore's seven-wicket effort to help the West Indies thrash Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second and final test here yesterday. Sarwan and Lara drove home the advantage created by Collymore with a 161-run stand for the third wicket as the West Indies comfortably chased a 212-run target to clinch the two-match series with more than two days to spare. The opening test at St Lucia had ended in a draw.
Lara hammered an unbeaten 80 and Sarwan a stroke-filled 82 to complete the job begun by Collymore, who finished with a career-best 7-57 to prevent Sri Lanka from setting a stiff fourth-innings target.
Sri Lanka were shot out for 194 in their second innings after resuming at 129-5, with Collymore taking the remaining five wickets for 31 in eight incisive overs to return the best figures by a West Indian at Sabina Park.

Only Englishmen Trevor Bailey (7-34 in 1954) and John Snow (7-49 in 1968), and West Indian Wes Hall (7-69 in 1960) had captured seven wickets at this venue before Collymore.

Sarwan and Lara batted resolutely to ensure their team did not repeat the first-innings mistakes when the hosts were dismissed for 191 in reply to Sri Lanka's 208.

The pair batted cautiously in the afternoon, but went on the rampage in the last session as they severely punished fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, who had wrecked the West Indies with five wickets in the first innings.

The West Indies plundered 92 runs off just 11.4 overs.

Bureau Report