Mahela Jayawardene slammed an unbeaten 98 off 56 balls to help inspire Sri Lanka to a 57-run victory over the hosts West Indies in the World Twenty20 Super Eights Friday. The in-form Jayawardene lashed nine fours and four sixes as the visitors compiled 195-3 off 20 overs, the highest total of the tournament. The 32-year-old got sound support from captain Kumar Sangakkara, who supplied 68 off 49 deliveries. The left-hander struck five fours and three sixes. The pair's second-wicket stand of 166 was an overall partnership record for Sri Lanka in Twenty20s. West Indies never challenged and limped to 138-8 off 20 overs. Spinner Ajantha Mendis claimed 3-24 while pace ace Lasith Malinga grabbed 3-28. Earlier, the host had early success after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted as Kemar Roach (2-27) removed Sanath Jayasuriya on 6 to a miscue to short fine leg. But West Indies was scrappy in the field and the experienced pair made it pay. Sangakkara was let off early by captain Chris Gayle at slip and also had a let-off when Kieron Pollard floored a difficult return catch. Jayawardene, after passing 50 off 29 deliveries, had a reprieve on 66 when a top-edged skier landed safely in between wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher and Wavell Hinds. The silky Jayawardene, with scores of 81 and 100 in his previous innings in the competition, narrowly missed out on the chance to be the first player to register two centuries in Twenty20 internationals as the overs expired with him two short. West Indies' reply hinged on its skipper Gayle and the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the top of the order. But they both fell inside the first two overs and the pursuit faded meekly. Chanderpaul hit a six and a four for 11 before he sliced to backward point off Angelo Mathews. Gayle followed two runs later for 5 when he skewed a leading edge to extra cover off Nuwan Kulasekara. Ramnaresh Sarwan (28) and Dwayne Bravo (23) shared a stand of 53 for the third wicket but never achieved the necessary momentum. Bravo drove to extra cover to give Malinga his first wicket and Sarwan followed soon afterwards as he chipped back to Mendis. Big-hitting Kieron Pollard misfired again as he holed out to Mendis for 9.
