Sri Lanka established themselves as realistic contenders for the ICC KnockOut 2000 title with a thumping 108-run victory over the West Indies in the second preliminary round match at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Wednesday.

The West Indies, who needed 288 to win, were never in with a hope after their first four wickets, including that of Brian Lara, had fallen for 41. At the halfway stage they were 106 for six and the innings finally came to an end in the 47th over.

The only partnership of any substance came for the seventh wicket when Laurie Williams and Mahendra Nagamootoo added 74. But by then West Indians were already fighting a lost cause as the 1996 World Cup winners continued to make up ground after a disappointing 1999 campaign in England.

Williams made a handy 41 before he swung Sanath Jayasuriya around to deep backward square as the seventh West Indian wicket fell at 159 and Nagamootoo was run out for 33 just one run later after a terrible mix-up with Nixon McLean as he sought a second run.

Mervyn Dillon came and went for 6, holing out to deep mid-wicket off Jayasuriya and the innings closed at 179 when McLean was bowled by Arnold, trying to heave across the line.

Nuwan Zoysa, who took three of the first four wickets to fall with the help of wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, finished with three for 34, Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Jayasuriya picked up two apiece, and although Muttiah Muralitharan failed to take a wicket, he conceded only nine runs in his 10 overs.

© CricInfo Ltd.