Windies win toss, ask Sri Lanka to bat

PORT OF SPAIN: Stand-in West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat in the fifth match of the Tri-Nation Series at Queen's Park Oval on Sunday.

Lendl Simmons, who was drafted into the hosts' squad on Saturday following the suspension of regular captain Dwayne Bravo for the match, comes into the final XI as one of three changes from the team that lost by 102 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method to India on Friday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin is omitted along with spinner Sunil Narine, who sustained a finger injury during that match.Their places are taken by batsman Devon Smith and fast-medium bowler Jason Holder with Johnson Charles to do duty behind the stumps.

Brimming with confidence following a 161-thrashing of India in their last match in Kingston five days earlier, a well-rested Sri Lanka have made two changes from the victorious XI at Sabina Park, all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and seamer Shaminda Eranga replacing Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath.

West Indies lead the standings with nine points ahead of their final match, followed by Sri Lanka and India on five points each. The sub-continental neighbours meet in the final preliminary match on Tuesday ahead of the final on July 11.

Teams: West Indies - K. Pollard (captain), C. Gayle, J. Charles, L.
Simmons, D. Bravo, D. Smith, M. Samuels, D. Sammy, J. Holder, K. Roach, T. Best.

Sri Lanka - A. Mathews (captain), U. Tharanga, M. Jayawardene, J. Mendis, K. Sangakkara, D. Chandimal, L. Thirimanne, H. Kulasekara, S. Senanayake, S. Eranga, L. Malinga. (AFP)