Chanderpaul and Samuels guide Windies home

By Simon Evans

PORT OF SPAIN (Reuters) - West Indies recovered from a shaky start to defeat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the rain-affected second one-day international on Saturday and claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Set a target of 125 to win in 25 overs after rain halted Sri Lanka's innings at 112 for five, the hosts were in trouble at 18 for three before Shivnarine Chanderpaul (52no) and Marlon Samuels (54no) saw them home.

Sri Lanka's early breakthrough came courtesy of the lively seam bowling of Nuwan Kulasekara, who dismissed openers Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle cheaply before taking the precious wicket of the in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan.

But then Chanderpaul, who won the first game on Thursday with a six off the last ball, and Samuel produced a partnership of 107 in 14.4 overs -- at an impressive 7.29 runs an over -- to secure victory with 27 balls remaining.

Samuels, who hit three fours and three sixes in an impressive knock, was badly in need of a score after failing throughout the two tests and Thursday's opening one-day game.

He kept his cool and punished the bad ball severely as Chris Gayle's side continued an impressive run against the Sri Lankans following last week's win in the second test.

Sri Lanka's effort was cut short by the rain but just at the moment when the hosts were getting into the middle order.

The opening pair put on 38 before Mahela Udawatte (14) took a big swing at Jerome Taylor and skied a catch to Sewnarine Chattergoon.