A breakneck 193-run eighth-wicket stand between Carlos Brathwaite and Andre Russell transformed West Indians' position from dire to dominant in the Colombo practice match, which the visitors went on to win by 43 runs. The Sri Lanka Board President's XI's chase was cut short by rain at 21 overs. Their response of 103 for 3 to West Indians' 318 was found to be well short via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

West Indians had been 109 for 7 after 30 overs, before Brathwaite walloped seven sixes and 10 fours to make a 58-ball 113. Russell struck six sixes to make 89 from 54, helping propel West Indians beyond 300, before both batsmen got out in quick succession, and the innings ended in the 49th over.

The President's XI began poorly when Danushka Gunathilaka, who is in the ODI squad, was dismissed for 13 by Ravi Rampaul. Recent Test debutant Kusal Mendis hit 32 from 46, and Lahiru Thirimanne hinted at a return to better form, in his preferred format, with 41 from 48. Russell and Jason Holder took the other two wickets.

Earlier, left-arm seamer Isuru Udana and legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna seemed to have West Indians pinned, when they claimed two wickets each by the end of the 26th over. Only Darren Bravo, from among West Indians' top seven, made it past 20. Seamer Binura Fernando was expensive, but claimed three wickets - including those of Brathwaite and Russell - towards the end of the innings. Suraj Randiv delivered five overs for 20 runs and took one wicket.

(espncricinfo)