A record sixth-wicket stand of 159 between Chamara Silva and Chamara Kapugedera revived Sri Lanka and helped them set West Indies 236 to win the first One-day International on Thursday.
Kapugedera struck seven fours and three sixes in the top score of 95 from 117 balls and Silva collected seven boundaries in 67 from 96 balls to lead a Sri Lanka fight-back, after Dwayne Bravo triggered a slump that restricted them to 49 for five in the 15th over.
But Kapugedera joined Silva and they established a new Sri Lanka record for the sixth wicket in ODIs to help the visitors reach a respectable 235 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs after they were sent in to bat on a hard, true Queen's Park Oval pitch under partly cloudy skies.
Silva however, was dismissed in the 47th over, when he was caught at mid-wicket to become the last of Bravo's career-best four wickets for 33 runs from 10 overs which made him the most successful West Indies bowler.
At this stage, the 21-year-old Kapugedera was eyeing triple figures, but he just failed to cross the threshold to his maiden ODI hundred in his 30th match, when he was adjudged lbw swinging across the penultimate ball of the innings, a slower delivery from Fidel Edwards.
The two Sri Lankans had batted with aplomb, after the top-order batting caved-in under the pressure of steady, if not menacing West Indies bowling.
They took few risks, and in the closing overs, their confidence was such that they started to play with greater enterprise before their downfall.
But Sri Lanka had stumbled through the opening phase of the match, when Edwards bowled ODI newcomer Mahela Udawatte for a duck in the second over, and Jerome Taylor had Kumar Sangakkara caught at square cover for 23 to leave them 38 for two in the 10th over.
Sri Lanka appeared to have conceded the advantage, when he snared Upul Tharanga for 10, Mahela Jayawardene for one, and Tillakeratne Dilshan for two between the 11th and 15th overs.
But Kapugedera joined Silva, and they breathed life back into their side's innings with controlled batting once Taylor, Edwards, and Bravo were removed from the attack.
Kapugedera and Silva milked the bowling of Darren Sammy and beanpole left-arm spin bowler Sulieman Benn, playing in his first ODI, as well as West Indies captain Chris Gayle for precious runs.
Kapugedera reached his 50, when he flicked Edwards to deep fine leg for a single in the 40th over, and Silva joined him on the milestone, when he sliced the same bowler to the backward point boundary in the same over before they both perished making the final thrust.
The second ODI of the series is on Saturday at this venue, and the third and final ODI - a day/night fixture - next Tuesday at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia.
