Date-stamped : 01 Dec93 - 11:02 WI v SL, ODI1, 1 Dec 93, Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo; Report West Indies set Sri Lanka a target of 198 in 39 overs in the first one-day international on Wednesday. Electing to bat after winning the toss, the West Indies reached 197 for three in 39 overs. The 50-over match was reduced after heavy overnight rain delayed the start of play by two hours. Stylish left-handed opener Brian Lara led the tourists with a sparkling 89 which included eight boundaries. His only blemish came at 74, when he was dropped at square leg by Roshan Mahanama off the bowling of recalled leg spinner Don Anurasiri. Lara was associated in an 88 run partnership for the second wicket with skipper Richie Richardson who made 21. Keith Arthurton chipped in with 37, con- taining two huge sixes, to help boost the West Indian score. This is the first time that Sri Lanka are playing the West Indies at home. The hosts have a dismal 15-1 one-day international record against the Caribbean side. ====> MORE match abandoned due to bad light colombo, dec 1 (afp) bad light forced the first one-day international between the west indies and sri lanka to be aban- doned here today. sri lanka, chasing a target of 198, were 35 for 1 in 12 overs when play was halted for bad light. after an hour, the umpires decided to abandon the 50-over match, which had earlier been reduced to 40 overs. the start of play was de- layed by two hours after heavy overnight rain had left the outfield damp. west indian captain richie richardson, winning the toss, elected to play safe and bat. *i didn't want to take a risk and field. we have many big men and it would have been dangerous for us to field on a slippery outfield,* said richardson. his decision was vindicated as the west indians were hardly troubled by the sri lankan attack as they rattled up 197 in 39 overs, one short of the alloted 40 overs. the sri lan- kans were hardly in the chase as west indian opening pace duo, curtly ambrose and courtney walsh bowled with plenty of fire to keep firm clamp on the batting. Thanks to S.Ramani on m.n.s. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@*Sun.COM)