Windies ‘A’ take lead over Sri Lanka ‘A’
View(s):Top order batsmen Kirk Edwards and Assad Fudadin made centuries to help West Indies ‘A’ take a slim lead of 22 runs against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at stumps on day three, as the First Unofficial Test between the two countries head to a draw at St. Kitt’s in Leeward Islands, West Indies.
West Indies ‘A’ were 494 runs for the loss of five wickets against the 472 posted by Sri Lanka ‘A’ as the game reached its third day on Friday. With a day’s play remaining before the end of the first of two Unofficial Tests between the two second string sides of hosts West Indies and Sri Lanka, the home team capitalised, riding mainly on a productive partnership of 256 runs between Edwards and Fudadin for the second wicket.
Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal picked three scalps for Sri Lanka ‘A’
Resuming from their overnight score of 147 for one trailing by 325 runs, West Indies ‘A’ added further 347 runs to their total to gain momentum of a possible win in the upcoming four-day match to be played at Kingston from Wednesday.
Fudadin who was 81 unbeaten overnight was the first from the duo to reach the century before falling to left-arm spinner Chathuranga de Silva for 145. The left-handed Guyanese faced 297 deliveries and struck 16 fours and a six to reach his best career figures. After Fudadin’s dismissal at 339, Edwards got together with Leon Johnson to construct a 108-run partnership for the third wicket, before the latter fell victim to left-armer Angelo Perera at 447. Right-handed Edwards from Barbados also recorded his career best with an elegant 190, surpassing his previous best by 19 runs, frustrating the Sri Lankans further. The Windies skipper faced 276 balls, with a better strike rate than Fudadin, after reaching the rope 26 times and hitting one over it.
Johnson was unbeaten on 80 from 118 deliveries and is 15 runs away from reaching his career best in First Class cricket.
The right-hander from Georgetown also hit 12 fours and a six while Narsingh Deonarine and Jonathan Carter were dismissed cheaply before settling down by off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, who was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers. Kaushal claimed three scalps inclusive of the wicket of opener Kraigg Brathwaite after bowling 46 overs and conceding 186 runs. Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne used seven bowlers to curtail West Indies ‘A’ who proved to be strong on home soils.
Earlier Sri Lanka elected to bat and posted 472 runs with two of their batsmen hitting tons and three reaching above the fifty-run mark. Sri Lanka scored 310 for the loss of 5 wickets on the first day and added further 162 runs to their total before being bowled out. Opener Udara Jayasundera made an epic101 from 159 deliveries inclusive of 13 fours on the first day to hit his fifth First Class ton as tailender Chathuranga de Silva followed to hit his third First Class century with a well composed 109 off 149 deliveries inclusive of eight fours and three sixes. The Sri Lankan top order batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne (57 off 98 with 9 fours), Kithruwan Vithanage (62 off 103 with 3 fours) and Ashan Priyanjan (65 off 86 balls with 10 fours and a six) made half centuries. Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller claimed six wickets.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 472 all out (130 overs) (Udara Jayasundera 101, Dimuth Karunaratne 51, Kithruwan Vithanage 62, Kaushal Silva 26, Ashan Priyanjan 65, Chathuranga de Silva 109, Nikita Miller 6/141, Shannon Gabriel 2/56)
West Indies ‘A’ 494 for 5 wickets (138 overs) (Kraigg Brathwaite 37, Assad Fudadin 145, Kirk Edwards 190, Leon Johnson 80n.o, Tharindu Kaushal 3/186)
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