Third one-day international, Colombo (SSC):
Sri Lanka 277-9 (50 ovs) beat West Indies 251 (49 ovs) by 26 runs
Match scorecard

Sri Lanka will head to the World Cup in high spirits after their series win

Ajantha Mendis took 4-46 as Sri Lanka beat West Indies to win the third one-day international in Colombo by 26 runs and complete a 2-0 series victory.

The hosts made 277-9 with captain Kumar Sangakkara (75) and Mahela Jayawardene (44) sharing a 95-run partnership.

West Indies then slipped to 0-2 before a 125-run third-wicket stand between Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

But Mendis finished with 4-46 and Thisara Perera 3-36 as the tourists were 251 all out in 49 overs.

Batting first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka were helped by handy contributions at the top from openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) and Upul Tharanga (39).

Sangakkara and Jayawardene consolidated further as the hosts reached 150 by the 32nd over before Ravi Rampaul ended the 95-run stand by dismissing Jayawardene.

Three quick wickets by Sulieman Benn - removing Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera (four) and Chamara Kapugedara (17) - wrested the initiative back to the bowling side.

However, Angelo Mathews and Mendis added 33 in 19 balls for the ninth wicket as Sri Lanka reached reached their 50-over total.

In reply the Windies endured a disastrous start, losing both Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath for ducks. But Darren Bravo and Sarwan kept the chase on, adding 125 in the next 22.3 overs.

A double strike brought Sri Lanka back in the game as Sarwan (51 off 66 balls) and new man Shivnarine Chanderpaul were dismissed within five balls by Rangana Herath and Mendis respectively.

The spinners kept up the pressure by choking boundaries, but half-brothers Darren and Dwayne Bravo tried to break the shackles by hitting a six each off consecutive Herath overs as the 150 came up in the 31st over.

A bowling change did the trick for the visitors as Perera caught Darren Bravo plumb in front when on 79 and claimed new man Darren Sammy four balls later to reduce the Windies to 159-6.

Right-handed Dwayne Bravo then took over and in the company of wicketkeeper Baugh added 36 in seven overs to bring the target down to 84 from the last 11 overs.

But Dilhara Fernando shifted the momentum by dismissing Dwayne Bravo (32 off 42 balls) as the mounting asking rate left Baugh with the task of pulling off an unlikely victory by shepherding the tail.

With 70 required off 48 balls, Baugh hit back-to-back boundaries off Mathews and together with Nikita Miller kept the Windies in the hunt for a while, but with boundaries drying up the task appeared increasingly difficult.

Miller was dismissed by Mendis with 42 required from 22, but Baugh and Benn added 15 in 14 balls to take them closer to the target.

However, with the wicketkeeper falling to Mendis in the 49th over with still 27 required off nine balls it was game over for the Windies.

Mendis finished with a four-wicket haul after removing Benn in the same over.

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