Skipper Charith Asalanka struck an unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by five wickets in the second one-day international on Wednesday to clinch the three-match series.Chasing a tricky 190, Sri Lanka reached the target with 34 balls to spare at the Pallekele stadium, with Asalanka making an unbeaten 62 off 61 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The match was reduced to 44-overs a side after the start was delayed by two hours because of rain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka lost two early wickets but they were rescued by a third wicket stand of 62 between Nishan Madushka (38) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (38).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asalanka then saw the team through with his doughty knock that included one six and seven fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also brought up his 14th ODI half-century in the process and shared a stand of 55 with Janith Liyanage (24) for the fifth wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This was Asalanka's second consecutive half-century, following his match-winning 77 in the first ODI.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The victory secured a 2-0 series win for the hosts, having won the opening game by five wickets on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This was also the fifth successive bilateral ODI series win for Sri Lanka this year and the tenth consecutive home series victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am happy to score some runs and help the team win," said Asalanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's been a dream run for us in the last couple of months. We want to keep winning."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The third and final match will be played at the same venue on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The series is lost but hopefully we can salvage some pride," said West Indies captain Shai Hope.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Our spinners need to take a leaf out of the Sri Lankan spinners' books."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Sherfane Rutherford (80) shared a record 119-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) to lift West Indies from a precarious 58-8 after they were put in to bat in overcast conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This was the highest ninth-wicket partnership for West Indies in one-day internationals, eclipsing the 85-run stand between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph against New Zealand in Barbados in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rutherford, dropped twice on 23 and 72, hit four sixes and seven fours in his 82-ball knock for his second successive half-century of the series and his career-best ODI innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Motie's maiden ODI half-century included six fours, before the visitors were bowled out in the 36th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed 4-40 on a pitch that offered variable bounce and turn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n