Opening bowler Chaminda Vaas was again the hero, scoring an unbeaten 28 and capturing four vital wickets to leave West Indies just short of Sri Lanka's modest total of 228 for six.

But even his performance was overshadowed by Ramnaresh Sarwan who played a courageous innings to give West Indies the chance of a miraculous victory.

Rushed to hospital after being felled by a Dilhara Fernando bouncer, Sarwan returned to score an unbeaten 47 that almost won his team the match.

The in-form batsman was struck flush on the side of the head by a steeply rising rapid delivery. The ball crashed into his helmet and the impact knocked him to the ground, opening up a cut behind his left ear that required stitching.

Unbeaten on 10 when he was carried off, Sarwan added another 36 runs but eventually ran out of overs as Sri Lanka snatched the victory that should ensure their progression to the next round.

``It is a big relief for us, especially after the disappointing result in Nairobi,'' Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya told a news conference. ``When we got 228 we thought it was good total with our bowlers. We didn't do well in the last match so there was a lot of pressure on us.''

West Indies captain Carl Hooper could not hide his disappointment.

``At the beginning of the day it was in our hands but at the end of the day, we lost it so basically, that's it, we're out,'' he said.

``We're very disappointed but you can't really put these sort of things into words.

``I honestly thought we'd do much better than this. To be knocked out in this manner is hard but cricket's about life and you just have to take it.''

ULTIMATELY DECIDED
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle scored half-centuries for West Indies but it was Vaas who ultimately decided the match.

He dismissed Wavell Hinds for two and Brian Lara for one in his first spell before returning to get rid of Gayle and Ridley Jacobs.

Gayle and Sarwan had added 35 for the third wicket but Sarwan's unfortunate departure and Hooper's next-ball golden duck left West Indies in trouble at 62-3.

Gayle, who made 55 off 76 balls after scoring 32 runs in his last four matches, steadied the innings in a 59-run stand with Chanderpaul before Vaas removed him and Jacobs in the space of four balls.

Chanderpaul hit 65 off 90 deliveries to give West Indies hope before he holed out chasing quick runs, before Sarwan returned to a hero's welcome.

FINAL OVER
He smashed two sixes and four fours to give his team an outside chance of winning, but they failed to get the 14 runs required off the final over to finish on 222 for nine.

Vaas had also played a key role with the bat, helping Sri Lanka reach 228 with an unbeaten 28 and sharing a 50-run partnership with Russel Arnold (34 not out).

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka had looked to be heading towards a smaller total after a sloppy batting display.

Jayasuriya scored a patient 66 to prop up the innings but did not get much support.

Opener Marvan Atapattu (three) was run-out attempting a suicidal single and Aravinda de Silva, looking in fine form, went the same way after a dreadful mix-up with his skipper that left both batsmen stranded at the same end.

Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillekeratne shared a second-wicket partnership of 85 before the latter fell for 36.

Jayasuriya compiled an uncharacteristically cautious fifty before throwing his wicket away in frustration, and Sri Lanka slumped to 178 for six before Arnold and Vaas pushed the accelerator in a stand that ultimately proved decisive.

Once again winning the toss proved decisive in a day-night match, though the victory margin was much narrower than the last two such games in the tournament.

SRI LANKA

M.Atapattu run-out 3

S.Jayasuriya c Chanderpaul b Gayle 66

H.Tillekeratne b Hinds 36

A.de Silva run-out 13

M.Jayawardene c Powell b Hooper 9

R.Arnold not out 34

K.Sangakkara c Lara b Drakes 24

C.Vaas not out 28

Extras: (lb-5, w-8, nb-2) 15

Total: (for six wickets, 50 overs) 228

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-96, 3-113, 4-131, 5-139, 6-178.

Bowling: Dillon 10-0-30-0 (w-2), Collins 10-0-62-0 (nb-2, w-2), Drakes 10-1-32-1 (w-1), Hooper 6-0-30-1 (w-1), Hinds 4-0-27-1, Gayle 10-0-42-1 (w-2)

WEST INDIES

C.Gayle lbw b Vaas 55

W.Hinds c Jayasuriya b Vaas 2

B.Lara c Sangakkara b Vaas 1

R.Sarwan not out 47

C.Hooper lbw b Fernando 0

S.Chanderpaul c Atapattu b de Silva 65

R.Jacobs c Sangakkara b Vaas 0

R.Powell b Muralitharan 1

V.Drakes c Vaas b Jayasuriya 25

M.Dillon run-out 4

P.Collins not out 1

Extras: (lb-6, w-12, nb-3) 21

Total: (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 222

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-27, 3-62, 4-121, 5-121, 6-122, 7-169, 8-186, 9-219.