SL-WI Hopes Rain Allowed Some Preparation Before WC

Colombo: The specter of rain looms large on the ongoing ODI series even though it had been rescheduled to January-February to avoid exactly that. And beware the rain, for there's more forecast in Colombo on Thursday.

Sri Lanka's batting was untested after rain distrub second innings in the series opener, but Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan their bowling mainstays, were back into ODI groove. Nuwan Kulasekara served his role of the back-up Sri Lankan with an economical spell.

Inconsistency problem with Chamara Kapugedera. His reputation as a big hitter and a potential game-changer down the order has ensured his place in Sri Lanka's starting XIs for the last three years but his results have been mixed. Kapugedera has shuffled positions in the middle order and has his share of attacking cameos.

On otherhand, West Indies wicketkeeper batsman Carlton Baugh reminds you of David Williams with his diminutive stature, and has been picked in the West Indies squad for the World Cup ahead of the more experienced Denesh Ramdin. Despite having made his debut in international cricket more than seven years ago, Baugh has been unable to cement his place as a regular largely due to his inconsistency with the bat. He made a half-century in the Test series against Sri Lanka but an average of 14.86 in ODIs doesn't really promise much.

West Indies have opener Devon Smith in their ranks, but he may again have to sit out. Shivnarine Chanderpaul batted at No.6 but his style of play is better suited at the top of the order while Dwayne Bravo, who missed the first game due to a niggle, has to be brought back at some stage.

Teams from

Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Tilakratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thissara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga

West Indies Darren Sammy (capt), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Sulemmn Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemor Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith

Stats and trivia

• The first ODI of the series on Monday was the third abandoned One-day international between Sri Lanka and West Indies.
• The last time a West Indian spinner bagged a five-for in ODIs was in 2003 - Chris Gayle against Australia at St George's.
• Adrian Barath's century was the first by a West Indies batsman against Sri Lanka in ODIs after Brian Lara in 2003.

Match facts
Thursday February 3, 2011
Start time 09.30 local (04:00 GMT)