- Leclerc wins US Grand Prix as Norris, Verstappen clash
- Moldovans vote 'no' in referendum on joining EU: partial results
- Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout
- Lions hand Vikings first loss, Packers down Texans
- In escalation, Israel bombs Hezbollah-linked finance group
- Martinez keeps Inter on Napoli's tail with Roma winner
- Marseille return to form with Montpellier thrashing
- Lula cancels trip to summit in Russia after injuring head
- Cuba girds for Hurricane Oscar with electricity supply still down
- Harris celebrates birthday at Georgia churches as Trump serves McDonald's
- One dead as flooding hits Italy's northeast flatlands
- Browns quarterback Watson exits with Achilles tendon injury
- Liverpool 'showed up' to beat Chelsea challenge: Slot
- 'Once in a lifetime' Kerr leads New Zealand to Women's T20 World Cup triumph
- Pope names 14 new saints, including martyrs of Damascus
- Malinin captures third straight Skate America crown
- Sri Lanka triumph in rain-affected first ODI against West Indies
- Moldovans flock to vote in key tests on EU future
- Liverpool pass Chelsea test to reclaim Premier League top spot
- Kerr leads New Zealand to maiden Women's T20 World Cup triumph
- Tens of thousands rally in Georgia for EU ahead of pivotal vote
- UN biodiversity summit opens under guerrilla threat in Colombia
- 'Smile 2' scares up the biggest audiences in N.American theaters
- 'I deserved this,' says Bautista Agut after 12th career title
- Thousands protest in Spain's Canary Islands against mass tourism
- Lavreysen reaps 16th gold at track cycling worlds
- Sorloth double helps Atletico beat Leganes
- Libyan held in Germany over suspected Israel embassy plot
- Leverkusen's Boniface 'slightly injured' in car accident
- New Zealand post 158-5 against South Africa in Women's T20 World Cup final
- Teen defender Rothe lifts Union past struggling Holstein Kiel
- Fans gather to mourn Liam Payne's death at UK and other vigils
- Stones bags controversial winner as Man City survive Wolves scare
- Eight-storey building collapses in Kenyan capital
- Tributes pour in for Olympic champion Chris Hoy after terminal cancer revelation
- Oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan votes, shadowed by economic struggles
- Moldova votes on EU future amid fears of Russian meddling
- With little electricity, Cuba girds for a hurricane
- Napoli keep Serie A lead with win at Empoli
- Tanak triumphs to set up world rally title decider in Japan
- Nepal protesters clash with police over politician's fraud charges
- Leverkusen's Boniface only 'slightly injured' after car accident
- Green holds off Boutier surge to win LPGA title in South Korea
- Israel escalates Beirut bombing, accused of killing 73 in Gaza strike
- Young, Ravindra guide New Zealand to first win in India for 36 years
- New Zealand record first Test win in India for 36 years
- Harris turns 60, but prefers to talk about Trump's age
- Putin seeks to rival Western power with high-profile summit
- Hurricane set to hit Cuba amid national blackout
- Latham out as New Zealand resume 107 chase to win first India Test
Sri Lanka triumph in rain-affected first ODI against West Indies
Sri Lanka cruised to a comprehensive five-wicket win in the rain-shortened first one-day international against the West Indies in Pallekele on Sunday, with half-centuries from captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka.
Chasing a revised target of 232 in 37 overs, the hosts raced to victory with 5.3 overs to spare.
After a shaky start that saw Sri Lanka slump to 45 for three in the seventh over, Asalanka's arrival at the crease turned the tide.
His partnership with Madushka, worth 137 runs for the fourth wicket, came in rapid time.
Both Asalanka and Madushka reached their half-centuries in just 44 balls.
Madushka, who has played 10 Test matches, was brought in to replace injured opener Pathum Nissanka, the leading run scorer in ODIs in 2024.
"I am glad that he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands," Asalanka said. "It is good to have healthy competition in the side."
The West Indies had posted 183 for four in 38.3 overs before rain intervened.
Their spinners then found it hard to grip the wet ball.
"We were really tested by the conditions", West Indies skipper Shai Hope said.
"Particularly for the spinners, the wet ball was quite challenging."
Gudakesh Motie eventually broke the Asalanka-Madushka stand, when Brandon King took a sharp catch at slip.
But by then, the damage had been done.
Sri Lanka needed just 50 runs off 74 balls when Madushka fell for 69 off 54 balls, which included seven fours and a six.
Motie also trapped Asalanka lbw after a brilliant 77 off 71 balls, studded with eight fours and three sixes.
Motie finished with three wickets, although he could have had a greater impact if not for the challenging conditions, with the ball having to be changed twice.
Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage saw Sri Lanka home comfortably.
Earlier, the West Indies had struggled against Sri Lanka's spinners, but Sherfane Rutherford's career-best 74 not out, combined with support from Roston Chase, helped the visitors recover with an unbroken 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
However, it was not enough to stop Sri Lanka from taking the lead in the series 1-0.
Sri Lanka came from behind to win the T20 series 2-1 last week, their first series win over the West Indies in the shortest format.
The remaining two ODIs will be held on Wednesday and Saturday.
M.Thompson--AMWN