Ajantha Mendis and Suranga lakmal held their nerves to guide Sri lanka to a thrilling win here on Sunday in the first ODI between the two nations.
Mendis finished it off with a huge six towards long on area off Jonathan Carter who took two wickets in the same over and giving Windies a ray of hope.
Turning point of the match was Sunil Narine’s over when he took three wickets in one over when lanka were cruising and looking to win the first ODI easily.
Earlier, Andre Russell scored 41 off 24 deliveries and captain Jason Holder smashed 36 off just 13 balls to lift West Indies from a shaky start to 159-8 in a rain-shortened first one-day international against Sri lanka on Sunday.
Sri lanka captain Angelo Mathews chose to bowl first after a delayed toss due to rain.
Seam bowler Suranga lakmal gave him an ideal start, taking three wickets as the tourists got into trouble at 40-3 in the 15th over when rain interrupted play.
lakmal trapped opener Johnson Charles (1) leg before wicket with the total on 2 and had the other opener Andre Fletcher (3) caught at cover-point by Tillakakaratne Dilshan. lakmal also dismissed Marlon Samuels lbw for just 2 to finish with best bowling figures of 3-15
With the match reduced to 26 overs per side and his team losing one more wicket to go to 42-4, Russell hit three sixes and three boundaries to lift the total.
Holder was run out last after hitting three sixes and two boundaries.
No. 3 batman Darren Bravo held the innings together while wickets fell to score 38 off 58 balls including a six and three boundaries. Spinner Ajantha Mendis took 2-46 in four overs to reach 150 wickets in one-day internationals in his 84th game.
Sri lanka handed maiden ODI caps to allrounders Shehan Jayasuriya and Danushka Gunathilaka.
Dinesh Chandimal is serving a one-match ICC suspension after a disciplinary breach in a test match against India.