- Reuters
Sri Lanka's Farveez Maharoof (centre) kisses the ground after dismissing Carlton Baugh (right) of the West Indies as teammate Upul Tharanga watches during their qualifying match of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Mumbai yesterday. Maharoof claimed six wickets as Sri Lanka won by nine wickets.

MUMBAI, India, CMC:

ANOTHER DREADFUL batting performance has condemned defending champions West Indies to contest what is considered the much tougher Group-A in the preliminary competition of the ICC Champions Trophy, following a nine-wicket defeat to fellow qualifiers Sri Lanka yesterday at the Brabourne Stadium.

The West Indies were undermined by a record bowling performance from Farveez Maharoof and were shot out for a measly 80 in 30.4 overs, after choosing to bat.

The West Indies' brittle batting was again cruelly exposed, when Maharoof collected six wickets for 14 runs from nine overs to establish a new record for the best bowling analysis in the Champions Trophy.

The 22-year-old all-rounder's maiden five-wicket haul in an ODI and career-best figures earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit 45 not out from 47 balls and captain Mahela Jayawardene scored 34 from 35 deliveries, as Sri Lanka sped to their target in 13.2 overs for the win.

The defeat means West Indies will contest Group A of the preliminary competition that includes world champions Australia, hosts and World No. 5 India, and the highly-competitive World No. 7 England.

Sri Lanka, rated at six in the latest ICC One-Day International World Rankings, join World No. 2 South Africa, World No. 3 Pakistan, and World No. 4 and former champions New Zealand in Group B.

The West Indies' total eclipsed their own decimation of Zimbabwe for 85 six days earlier to become the new third lowest total in the competition's brief history.

Only the United States (65 vs Australia at Southampton two years ago) and Bangladesh (77 vs New Zealand at Colombo four years ago) have been dismissed for lower totals in the competition's history.

Brian Lara fell for 13, Dwayne Bravo for a three-ball duck, Marlon Samuels for one, Dwayne Smith for a two-ball duck, Carlton Baugh, Jr., for one, and Wavell Hinds for the top score of 28, as Maharoof made sure that West Indies never recovered from the early strife of 13 for three.

The West Indies conceded the advantage early to Sri Lanka, when Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga - gaining movement from the pitch - wiped away Chris Gayle, vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the first four overs.

Gayle was caught behind for a five-ball duck in the first over off Vaas, who also had Sarwan adjudged lbw for a three-ball duck, before Chanderpaul was squared-up and edged a ball moving away to be caught behind for eight off Malinga.

The West Indies' batting lacked the confidence and aplomb from the previous two qualifying matches against minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh which they won handsomely.

Vaas took two for six from six overs and Malinga snared two for 26 from 5.4 overs.

When Fidel Edwards had Upul Tharanga, a century-maker in his side's two other qualifying matches, bowled with the first ball of Sri Lanka's reply, it may have raised the spectre of a thrilling finish.

The West Indies could not deliver however, and it was left to Jayasuriya and Jayawardene to confidently navigate their side to safe harbour - even accepting the generosity of Lara to forego the dinner interval to complete the match.

The West Indies made two changes to their side, replacing Ian Bradshaw and Jerome Taylor with Smith and Fidel Edwards.

Sri Lanka had one change, with Vaas being brought back ahead of Ruchira Perera.

Both sides were guaranteed a place in the main draw of the competition, having won their first two qualifying matches against the other two qualifiers Bangladesh and Zimbabwe easily.