ON TARGET: South Africa's Charl Langeveldt appeals successfully for a leg-before verdict against Andrew White of Ireland. — Photo: AP

JAMAICA: Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle bludgeoned the Kenyan attack as the West Indies won its warm-up game by 21 runs here on Monday.

The World Cup programme kicked off with four warm-up matches, bringing cricket's marquee limited-overs tournament to the Caribbean for the first time.

England trounced Bermuda by 241 runs and 1996 champion Sri Lanka coasted to a 159-run win over Scotland in lop-sided matches while the top-ranked South Africa held off a determined Irish line-up, thanks to Andrew Hall's contributions with bat and ball.

The tournament proper commences on March 13 with the final scheduled for April 28.

The West Indies won the first two editions in 1975 and '79 and lost the '83 final to India, when the World Cups were held in England.

Since then, the West Indies has been usurped by Australia as the sport's dominant team and slipped well down the rankings despite having Brian Lara, one of cricket's greats, in the team.

The World Cup matches have been held in Australia and New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the meantime, making the West Indies the last of the traditional Test nations to host.

Lara (37) is confident that his team will live up to the huge local expectations. He did not bat in the 21-run win over Kenya, the 2003 World Cup semifinalist, leaving it to Jamaicans Samuels (100) and Gayle (75) to do the honours on their home island.

Lara said he was happy with the win over Kenya, but predicted a tougher challenge against India in the team's last warm-up match on Friday.

``We'll be playing a better team, a team where a result will have some sort of psychological advantage,'' Lara said. ``We would like a win in that game and I expect the intensity levels to be raised.''

In good shape

The champion left-hander said he was in good shape for the World Cup. ``Mentally, I'm strong. I'm looking forward to the World Cup. And if things don't go well on Friday, it's not going to be a big problem,'' he said. ``I'm experienced enough to get it together in the nets and be able to reproduce something out in the middle that is going to benefit the team,'' Lara added.

At St. Augustine (Trinidad), Hall dragged South Africa out of trouble, scoring an unbeaten 67 to lift his team from 91 for eight to 192. He then took three wickets to help secure a 35-run win over World Cup rookie Ireland.

Ireland's Australia-born fast bowlers did some early damage, with Trent Johnston snaring four for 40 and David Langford-Smith returning three for 30.

Langford-Smith removed Graeme Smith (9), AB de Villiers (5) and Jacques Kallis (12) to have South Africa reeling at 42 for three. Johnston chimed in with the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs (21) — playing despite an injured finger — Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock and Loots Bosman before Hall resurrected the innings.

South Africa-born Andre Botha top-scored with 40 for Ireland.

England, on a roll after beating Australia in the recent tri-series Down Under, overcame an unsteady start to post 286 for eight and then skittled out Bermuda for 45 in 22.2 overs.

Jamie Dalrymple scored 76 from 79 balls to restore England's middle-order after giant Bermudan police officer Dwayne Leverock removed Paul Collingwood caught behind and had Kevin Pietersen stumped.

``Most players got something out of the game,'' said England captain Michael Vaughan, returning from a frustrating hamstring problem. ``It was nice to get some of the bowlers four or five overs each.

Paceman Jon Lewis also returned from injury with figures of three for seven from four overs while Andrew Flintoff took two for three and James Anderson two for eight off five.

Jayasuriya on song

Sri Lanka got on top early against Scotland with former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya hitting four boundaries and five sixes as he contributed 77 to a 117-run opening stand with Upul Tharanga.

The Sri Lankans posted 294 for seven, with Kumar Sangakkara blazing away to 81, and removed Scotland for 135 in 41.2 overs at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he was satisfied with the performance and looking forward to doing better against New Zealand on Friday.

``We had a great day and we are pleased with the result,'' he said. ``We still can get better and we will be working on our intensity. There were times when we slackened a bit, so we know what we have to do on Friday.''

The scores: At St. Vincent: England 286 for eight in 50 overs (J. Dalrymple 76, I. Bell 46, K. Pietersen 43, D. Borden three for 71) bt Bermuda 45 in 22.2 overs (J. Lewis three for seven).

At Bridgetown (Barbados): Sri Lanka 294 for seven in 50 overs (K. Sangakkara 81, S. Jayasuriya 77) bt Scotland 135 in 41.2 overs.

At Jamaica: West Indies 268 for six in 50 overs (C. Gayle 75, M. Samuels 100) bt Kenya 247 for seven in 50 overs (R. Shah 41, C. Obuya 54 not out).

At St. Augustine (Trinidad): South Africa 192 in 50 overs (A. Hall 67, T. Johnston four for 40, D. Langford-Smith three for 30) bt Ireland 157 in 44.2 overs (A. Botha 40, A. Hall three for 26, C. Langeveldt four for 31). — AP

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