Sri Lankan spinners restrict West Indies to 129-5

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka's spinners kept West Indies' big-hitting batsmen to a modest total of 129-5 in their World Twenty20 Super Eights group one match on Saturday.

Ajantha Mendis took 2-12 in his four overs while Jeeven Mendis fetched 1-12 as West Indies, who won the toss and opted to bat, found it hard to score freely in their 20 overs on a dry Pallekele stadium pitch.

Marlon Samuels (50) and Dwayne Bravo (40) were the main run-getters, lifting their team through a 65-run third wicket partnership after West Indies lost Chris Gayle (two) and Johnson Charles (12) at the same score of 16.

Samuels hit two sixes and four boundaries during his 35-ball knock before he holed out in the last over.

Mendis, who came on to bowl the fifth over of the innings, had Charles stumped off the fifth ball of the over which was a maiden.

Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara then had the dangerous Gayle caught behind off the first ball of the next, leaving a 30,000 holiday crowd delighted.

Bravo hit four boundaries and two sixes during his 34-ball knock before he holed out to Jeevan Mendis.

Big-hitter Kieron Pollard also failed, as he was bowled by Mendis for one.

Earlier, defending champions England beat New Zealand by six wickets in another group one match, to keep in contention for a semi-final place. (AFP)